Accreditation of Overseas Trained Doctors: The Continuing Crisis‪.‬

Thousands of overseas trained doctors (OTDs) are being recruited each year to practice medicine in Australia who have not had to pass a formal test of their medical knowledge or clinical skills. These include OTDs recruited on temporary entry visas to 'area of need' positions in general practice or as hospital registrars (some of whom perform specialist services), those recruited as Occupational Trainees, and OTDs who hold permanent residence visas who have been appointed to temporary positions in the public hospital system. There have been various statements from Australia's health authorities to the effect that a national assessment system will be put in place by the end of2006. This article examines action towards this end and concludes that these promises will not be met. **********