Medical registration in the future; a basic and a vocational register?

The Medical Council is reviewing possible changes in medical registration for the future. These would require major alterations in the existing statutes (Medical Practitioners Act 1968 and 1973 and amendments) and would take up to two years to implement if the changes are supported. It should be emphasised that the proposal is still only at the discussion level, and the New Zealand Medical Council is most anxious to have the plan widely reviewed by the profession. The essential changes would be the abolition of the Specialist Register and division of the Medical Register into two parts: (a) Basic section; (b) Vocational section. This new section of the Register would be indicative to the public of competence for independent practice, for this is the reason for the publication of a register.