16 Jun 2011

Rise in number of doctors working in NZ, says council

3:43 pm on 16 June 2011

The Medical Council says there are an extra 475 doctors working in New Zealand compared with a year ago.

The figures are contained in the council's medical workforce survey for 2010 released on Thursday.

The council says the number of doctors increased by 3.5% to 13,883 and there are increases in all categories, except in general practice and as house officers.

The proportion of doctors who obtained their first medical qualification overseas is still climbing, however, with international medical graduates comprising 41% all doctors.

But there is a suggestion New Zealand may be set to retain doctors better, with 93% of doctors who graduated in 2008 still working in the country two years later.

That was the highest level since 1995 and 10% up on the retention rate for the the same time the year before.

Medical Council chairman John Adams says the results are encouraging, but it is too soon draw conclusions.