أداة الإبلاغ الوطني (2024)

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has guidelines for doctors conducting telehealth consultations, including international telehealth which updated and took effect on 1 September 2023. Under the updated guidelines including Telehealth consultations continue as an important feature of healthcare in Australia. Real-time doctor-patient consultations remain key to safe healthcare, including prescribing. Providing healthcare, including prescribing, issuing certificates and referring, via questionnaire-based asynchronous web-based tools in the absence of a real-time patient-doctor consultation is not good practice.

Australia participates in the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. This code aims to establish and promote voluntary principles for ethical international recruitment of health personnel, strengthening health systems through effective workforce planning, education, and retention strategies

Since the adoption of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel in 2010, Australia has made significant strides in aligning its health personnel recruitment practices with the Code's principles Support for Indigenous Health Workers There has been a notable increase in the number of registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners from past years as per National Health Workforce Dataset (NHWDS) Australia also introduced National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031.This plan was co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. And this plan's target is for First Nations people to be fully represented in the health workforce by 2031. It includes actions to attract, recruit and retain workers across all roles, levels and locations within the health sector. Addressing Workforce Shortages Australia National Cabinet has commissioned a review of Australia’s regulatory settings for health professionals. It will consider ways to help ease health workforce shortages while maintaining high standards in health care quality and patient safety. The final report was endorsed by National Cabinet on 6 December 2023. The report recommends reforms to streamline regulatory settings to make it simpler, quicker and cheaper for international health practitioners to work in Australia. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks Australia has developed and refined its policy and regulatory frameworks to support the ethical recruitment and retention of health personnel. This includes measures to ensure that international recruits are integrated into the health system in a manner that benefits both the recruits and the Australian health system. This includes Health Regulatory Policy Framework: This document outlines how the Department of Health of Aged Care develops, manages, and reviews regulations to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and protect the health and safety of Australians. It emphasizes a holistic approach to regulation, ensuring that international recruits are integrated into the health system effectively National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031: This plan aims to increase Indigenous employment in the health workforce and includes measures to support the recruitment and retention of health personnel, ensuring culturally safe and appropriate healthcare services Independent review of health practitioner regulatory settings Australia national Cabinet has commissioned a review of Australia’s regulatory settings for health professionals including overseas trained health professionals. It will consider ways to help ease health workforce shortages while maintaining high standards in health care quality and patient safety International Collaboration Australia has engaged in international discussions and collaborations to address the challenges of health personnel migration. This includes participating in bilateral and multilateral agreements to ensure that the recruitment of health personnel is conducted ethically and sustainably. Global workforce shortages are a factor in implementing the code. Changes in global working patterns especially for the younger workforce who subscribe to a stronger work life balance has resulted in a reduction of available working hours. This means we need greater head count to meet existing service requirements. The code needs to balance between ethical recruitment and the right for individuals to seek opportunities.

Australia has acknowledged the importance of the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023, which identifies 55 countries facing the most pressing health workforce challenges1. The Australian government has reiterated its commitment to ethical recruitment practices and supporting the health systems of source countries. Australia has provided technical and financial assistance to several countries, including those listed in the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023, to support health workforce development and strengthen health systems: Service Delivery: Papua New Guinea (PNG): Australia has invested in improving healthcare service delivery by training healthcare workers and enhancing primary healthcare services. Health Information Systems: Indonesia: Australia has supported the development of health information systems to improve data collection and management, which is crucial for effective healthcare delivery. Health Financing: Pacific Island Countries: Australia has provided financial assistance to strengthen health systems, including health financing mechanisms, in countries like Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Medical Products and Technology: Timor-Leste: Australia has supported access to essential medicines and medical technology, ensuring that healthcare facilities have the necessary resources to provide quality care. Health Leadership and Governance: Solomon Islands: Australia has collaborated with local governments to enhance health leadership and governance, ensuring effective management and policy-making in health systems.