Papua-New Guinea

Migrant Doctors For

40 Men to Reinforce the

Medical Services

SEVEN “New Australians” (European migrants) who hold European medical degrees, which are not re cognised as yet in Australia, are either on their way to Papua and New Guinea, as officially-appointed medical officers, or they soon will be. They will be followed at an early date by others, until about 40 will be employed in the Australian Terri tories as medical officers.

Behind this arrangement there is evi dence of the bitter war that has been going on between the Australian Socialist Government, which has tried to nationalise medicine in Australia, and the British Medical Association doctors, who have resisted the plan successfully, and refused all co-operation. It was an im portant issue in the Australian general election, on December 10.

Details of the plan, and an indication of the background, were given in a state ment made in the Australian Parliament on October 27 by Minister Calwell (Immi gration). The following is the official (Hansard) report: “Mr. Edmonds: Has the attention of the Minister for Immigration been drawn to the reported shortage of medical staff in Papua-New Guinea? If so. will the Minister state whether any steps have been taken to alleviate that shortage by the appointment of suitably qualified per sons from among the new Australians who are being brought to this country.

“Mr. Calwell: I am aware of the needs of the medical services in Papua-New Guinea. The question relates to a subject which has been referred to on both sides of the House for some time past, which is, the necessity to use the services of new Australians to the greatest possible, de gree in conformity with their attainments, aptitudes and qualifications.

“But in order that persons with medical degrees from European universities, who are nationals of countries with which Australia has no reciprocal agreement for the recognition of such degrees, may prac tise, it is necessary that they should be come registered under State laws. There is no disposition on the part of some State authorities to grant such recogni tion, but this Parliament has power un der the Australian Constitution to regis ter such medical practitioners in terri tories of the Commonwealth such as Papua-New Guinea, the Australian Capi tal Territory, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island.

“The Department of Immigration has received requests from the Department .of External Territories for the services of a number of doctors. Dr. Gunther, who is chief of the medical services in Panua- New Guinea, has been in consultation with officers of my department about this matter.

“I think that about 40 doctors amongst the new Australians have been examined, and some have already been selected by Dr Gunther. Those who have had medi cal experience in Europe and who have satisfied Dr. Gunther’s requirements are to go td Papua-New Guinea as soon as possible. They number six and will be registered as medical practitioners in Papua-New Guinea and will attend to the needs of the natives of the territory.

The Minister for External Territories has been most anxious that the health of the natives should not suffer.

“The Government has tried in England.

Australia and in fact everywhere, to get

doctors to go to Papua-New Guinea, but has met with no success.

“It is hoped that ultimately all of the 40 individuals who I have mentioned will be appointed to practise in New Guinea.

I believe that such appointments will have some influence upon the attitude of the British Medical Association and the State medical boards on the question of afford ing recognition to university degrees in medicine and other branches of science held by these new Australians.

“The men who are to be appointed are all single men and will attend an orienta tion course at the Australian School of Pacific Administration, at Mosman, Syd ney, prior to proceeding to the Territory.

They will be registered for medical prac tice in the territory of Papua-New Guinea when they arrive in that territory.”

It was officially announced on Decem ber 3 that seven “migrant doctors” had been appointed; that practice in the ter ritory would not automatically guarantee them the right of private practice in Aus tralia; and that some of them intended to save most of their income to return to the mainland and attend a university to qualify for admittance to medical prac tice in the Commonwealth.

Two Years’ Indenture?

Letter to the Editor I'IHE arrival of 15 medical practitioners from Europe, to be followed later by a further 15, is announced by the Department of Public Health.

Will these gentlemen be under a two years’ indenture, as is the case with thousands of European migrants in Aus tralia?

If so, full particulars should be gazetted concerning their ration scale, hours of work, etc.; and an official explanation given as to why two years’ indenture is too long for a Papuan, but not for a European.

The matter should be taken up at once by the Rev. Dr. Burton, Professor Elkin, and similar critics of indenture.

I am, etc.,

G. T. Gemmell.

Mariboi Estate, Papua.