New Zealand is a country that many prefer to live in. It is mainly because of the country’s mild climate and growing economy. A large number of immigrants enter New Zealand every year and it only keeps growing.

The country’s prospective job market attracts immigrants to the country while retaining locals as well. The healthcare sector is also a prospective industry in New Zealand. Medical doctors have very high growth in terms of their careers.

However, the recent years have seen a growing demand for doctors in New Zealand. There are several reasons for this. Let’s look at why the country faces a demand for doctors and how you can benefit from it as a doctor or International Medical Graduate (IMG).

Aging and retirement

Aging and retirement is one of the main reasons for the growing demand of doctors in New Zealand. There is a severe burnout amongst General Physicians (GPs) and doctors working in rural hospitals. Burnout levels have gone up to 31 percent in 2020 compared to 22 percent in 2016.

This is intensified with the fact that 31 percent of GPs are supposed to retire in the next five years and 49 percent in the next ten years. The Government of New Zealand intends to take immediate action with regard to this issue to avoid a severe health crisis in the country.

Although almost half of the number of GPs in New Zealand plan to retire within the next decade, studies show that there are not enough younger doctors to fill up this gap. The country’s healthcare system relies on international doctors. According to the New Zealand Medical Council, approximately 40 percent of doctors who register are IMGs.

Shortage within the rural community

New Zealand has a considerable potion that belongs to the rural community. According to surveys, the rural community is also at risk with a significant percentage of shortage of doctors working in rural hospitals.

Almost a quarter of doctors working in rural hospital medicine are over 60 years of age. Out of this, 15 percent are supposed to retire within the next couple of years. This increases the percentage of rural hospital medical staff intending to retire within the next half a decade to 29.

Therefore, New Zealand has loosened barriers to overseas-trained doctors entering the country in order to expand its medical workforce. President of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Dr. Samantha Murton says that if not, the country will not have enough doctors to serve the present needs of the rural community.

Low representation of indigenous health

Indigenous health composes a significant part of the medical and healthcare system in New Zealand. The diversity of GP trainees seems to have increases in the past few years. However, M?ori and the Pacific GP representation still stands far away from where it needs to be.

The M?ori GP representation is just 4 percent which is very less in comparison to the national M?ori population that is 17 percent. Similarly, the Pacific GP representation 2 percent which is very less in comparison to the national Pacific population that is 8.1 percent.

Experts say that this low representation of indigenous health comes from the long-standing injustice that the society have placed on M?ori and Pacific people. The system needs to encourage and support more students, representing the indigenous community, to enter and study medicine in colleges and universities across New Zealand.

Gender-based payment

The gender pay gap is also significant in New Zealand. This has also paved way for a growing demand for doctors in New Zealand, especially the female representation. According to The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, there is a higher gender pay gap of 14.6 percent for GPs in comparison with the national average of 9.3 percent.

Becoming a specialist GP means that you dedicate about 11 years of your life for this purpose. In such circumstances it is unacceptable that female doctors are being paid very less than their male counterparts.

This is an area which needs to be filled in terms of the growing demand for doctors in New Zealand. If this issue of gender pay gap is solved, the country will see more female doctors in the medical workforce which will help in building up its healthcare system.

Which medical specialties are in demand?

If you are a doctor in New Zealand or Australia or an IMG, you might wonder which types of medical specialties are currently in demand. At present, there is a great demand for locum doctors not only in rural GP clinics but in medical centres across the country.

The following are some of the specialties that are in demand in New Zealand;

·        House workers (willing to work in any specialty)

·        Emergency Department (ED) doctors (all grades)

·        Obstetrics & Gynaecology specialists

·        Medical specialists

·        Anaesthetists

·        General Practitioners

The above list if proof that there are many doctor specialities that are in high demand in New Zealand. This is why you should apply for doctor jobs in the country right now.

Tips for applying for doctor jobs in New Zealand

The period from July to October is when there’s more movement in the job market concerning doctors and medical professionals. Therefore, it is the time when you see the highest number of vacancies in this field. The annual recruitment cycle of New Zealand reaches its busiest point from July to August. This is when you should be on the lookout for suitable jobs.

If you are specifically interested in a locum job role, then July to October is a great period to apply. There is generally a high demand for locum doctors during this period.

If you are a local or an IMG looking to work in a specific area in New Zealand, then make sure that you specify the location so that the job roles are filtered. You can opt for urban and or rural locations according to your preference. However, as stated above, there is a growing demand for doctors in rural hospital medicine. Therefore, you have more of a chance of landing a job as a rural doctor.

Here are a few reasons why you should work as a doctor in New Zealand;

·        Healthy work-life balance

·        Greater emphasis on quality of life

·        Temperate climate and access to pristine landscapes

·        Broader scope of work

Conclusion

New Zealand has a very high demand for doctors and medical professionals. This is only going to increase if the gaps are not filled appropriately. Therefore, you have better chances of working in this amazing country as a local or IMG.

All you need are the relevant medical qualification, work experience and registration. These procedures can take from 3 to 6 months if you are an IMG as it requires a bit of paperwork.

At Medfuture, we are committed to connecting medical professionals with employers in the medical industry. We ensure that every candidate gets a job that best suits his qualifications and experience. The strong network we have built with professionals in the medical industry has ensures that we provide quality services to our clients.

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