FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sydney, Thursday, 11 September 2008
ADTOA Press Release
IMGs accuse RACGP of Discrimination
ADTOA has received reports of gross discrimination against IMGs in the wake of the 2008 RACGP elections.
Australian Doctors Trained Overseas Association (ADTOA) is concerned about the treatment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) following complaints by members about restrictive RACGP election rules.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have complained that they are denied voting rights as associate members while Registrar associates and fellows have full voting privileges in RACGP elections. This is in light of the fact that associate members must pay costly membership dues for the privilege of being a college member.
Sources have told ADTOA that there is wide spread dissatisfaction amongst IMG associate members with the election results and processes and that this represents “a political time bomb”. “The results would have been different if IMGs had the same voting rights as Registrar associates” said the complaint. The end result of the current policy is that IMGs do not have voting rights that are proportional to their membership in the college. This policy results in blatant discrimination against IMGs.
ADTOA demands further investigation into the following discriminatory RACGP practices.
1. Why do registrar associates have full voting rights while equal IMG associates have none?
2. What is the rationale for denying associate non-registrars voting rights particularly when their membership fees are comparable to those of full voting members?.
How can people have confidence that the RACGP will treat IMGs fairly under these circumstances?
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The Australian Doctors Trained Overseas Association Inc (ADTOA. is the peak national body in Australia representing International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are citizens or residents. Human Rights & equity are not given. They are demanded & taken by those who have the courage to fight for them. ADTOA does this in the name of every overseas trained doctor in Australia who has suffered injustice & discrimination.
Authorized by R. Pepper Chief Executive Officer ADTOA
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