Media Response — NZ Optics

At the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO), we are committed to advocating for eye surgeons and their patients to ensure that excellence in ophthalmology care is safeguarded and that equity of access to services is maintained.

The recent policy decision to remove the training and accreditation of medical specialists from the medical colleges to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) is of concern to the ASO, especially if it compromises the long proven and current safety and quality standards of services by altering the existing requirements of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ (RANZCO) Fellowship in Australia. 

As a membership organisation, the ASO represents a majority of Ophthalmology Fellows from across the country. We are proud to recognise among our members numerous ophthalmologists who have trained overseas and transitioned to Australian practice after meeting the training and education requirements established by RANZCO — many of whom are recognised and highly respected for their contributions in the field of eye health. 

To ensure that equity of access to services is maintained for all Australians, the mass entry of specialists must be closely managed and mitigated to ensure that the distribution and placement of additional resources is not concentrated in major metropolitan areas — such as Bondi, Chatswood, and Melbourne CBD — when our regional and remote communities are in dire need.

This issue is complex and extends beyond creating incentives to relocate ophthalmologists to regional and remote areas.

A vast majority of Australian ophthalmologists work in private practice with very few public hospital positions available. However, committed to improving the eye health of all Australians, many of our members in private practice have established outreach clinics or will travel to remote areas to service those in regional and remote communities who are falling through the gaps.

For this to be effective, it requires either access to the appropriate support services and equipment for the procedure or treatment required (operating theatre, medical technology, etc.) or transporting patients from their home to the closest support services. Funding and support from both the public and private health sectors is also integral to success. 

Through RANZCO, Ophthalmology Fellows are educated and trained in providing ethically and culturally appropriate care in regional and remote Australian communities. We owe it to these Australians to ensure we are placing only the best trained medical specialists in their communities.