New Zealand is a location which has it all- from the pristine nature to hospitable people, a high standard of living to a stable economy making it the ideal place to relocate to, especially as a medical professional if you are looking at migrating. There are a number of factors that make New Zealand such an appealing location, including the fact that it is one of the most multicultural countries in the world with more than 100 languages spoken and over 25% of its population being overseas-born.

New Zealanders are known for their friendly nature and hospitality; they are also prudent savers and have some of the highest levels of wealth per capita in the world. The country's proximity to Australia makes it an ideal place for those looking at working in the medical field.

With an ageing population in New Zealand and amidst more health concerns since the pandemic, healthcare professionals are in great demand and get compensated quite grandly in exchange for their services. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018, New Zealand is ranked as one of the best countries in the world for medical care.

Despite this booming medical sector, there are still some issues which have led many doctors to consider working overseas and New Zealand is on top of the list.

Here are a few reasons why:

Lower living costs - this is one of New Zealand’s main advantages as it has comparatively lower living costs when compared to that of Australia and other developed countries. This makes it a much more affordable option for those looking to settle down in this region, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle without having to strain one's finances.

Sought-after vacancies which help propel medical careers. Medfuture will help you find the exact kind of job you are looking for, making this process hassle-free.

Top hospitals which are highly specialised indicate that New Zealand is well equipped in each field of medicine and there is easy access to necessary equipment required in practice for doctors to effectively do their work.

The highest demand for doctor jobs in New Zealand are as follows:

Emergency Department (ED) doctors across all grades

Medical specialists

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) specialists

Anaesthetists

House officers across any specialities

General Physicians (GP)

Doctors in demand in New Zealand are being offered a salary hike of up to NZ$100,000 to work in rural areas.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health is trying to address the shortage by offering incentives for doctors who move to underserved areas. The package includes a housing allowance, an extra annual salary payment and a relocation bonus - increasing the potential pay for GPs from NZ$59,000 to NZ$105,000. This makes it ideal for any medical professional who is looking out for a change in their environment whilst also wanting to progress in their field.

Working as a locum doctor in New Zealand can be a great way to gain experience in different medical settings and explore different areas of medicine. It also gives doctors the flexibility to work when and where they want, with no long-term commitment. As a locum doctor, there are numerous opportunities to work with different teams, learn new skills and gain valuable experience in various medical settings. Furthermore, it also enables one to choose the working hours as per the personal requirements and take on as much or as little work as they wish. Locum doctors are well-paid for their services, with competitive rates of pay that can often exceed those of permanent positions.

Being a locum doctor provides a good starting point for practitioners looking to improve the quality of care they offer while also keeping themselves healthy. It allows for flexibility and change for medical practitioners without the pressure of a long-term or permanent job. It also enables personal development by helping obtain experience in different cultures and environments, whilst professionally allowing doctors to really explore what niche or specialisation a doctor would enjoy practising in; Medfuture makes this identification process easier by understanding a practitioner's expectations and providing suitable options to choose from. This makes life easier and allows a doctor to focus more on what’s important- saving lives!

Medfuture also assists in explaining and ensuring that locum doctors are aware of the tax obligations and calculations as managing finances play a crucial role in any individual’s life. Legalities in practice are also clearly conveyed to doctors who work with Medfuture in order to ensure that medical careers are well in-check and there is no jeopardisation. This becomes all the more important for locum doctors who shift from one region to another, as it is important to keep up with tax and legal aspects of administration.

As a recruitment coordinator, MedFuture will take care of the following for locum doctors who are looking to practise in New Zealand:

who will take care of:

Negotiation of salary, transportation, visa and housing accommodations are often a part of the employment process that need to be addressed in order to secure the best working conditions for all parties involved. Pay rates, travel arrangements, visas and accommodation details must be carefully discussed and agreed upon before finalising any employment contract.

Scheduling and organising exact dates and shift times is a critical task which requires precision and accuracy, especially for a locum doctor. It can be a time-consuming process for those responsible for ensuring that all shifts are filled accurately and in accordance with requirements. Fortunately, MedFuture is equipped with the best technology which enables us to easily manage each medical practitioner’s schedules efficiently and accurately.

The process of organising and managing placement paperwork can be laborious to undertake if not done in an efficient manner. Streamlining the process of sorting, filing and tracking placement paperwork is essential for ensuring compliance, accuracy and timeliness in the workplace.

Assisting in the facilitation of any required regulatory processes is a crucial task for a locum doctor, in order to ensure that one is properly complying with all applicable laws. This is especially true for locum doctors as they keep moving from region to region, operating in multiple jurisdictions, where local regulations must be met and adhered to.

Working as a locum doctor in New Zealand is a rewarding choice as its government has placed policies in place that are very friendly for medical practitioners, especially locum doctors. This is a reason why New Zealand has the potential to grow into a medical hub and gain an international reputation for offering specialised medical treatments. Relocating to New Zealand as a locum doctor will enable a medical officer in any field to grow with the region, fuelling professional development and career advancement along with satisfying their psychological needs and wants of wanting a more flexible and diverse experience in such an otherwise serious field of work.

If you are a locum doctor looking for a change or at the available opportunities found in New Zealand, contact the Medfuture team today on  gprecruitment@medfuture.co.nz or reach out to Selma on 09 886 9796 or Cheny on 09 884 0116 for a confidential discussion about you preferred role.