A little bit of poaching from the poor
If I have read the data on the World Health Organisation's Global Atlas of the Health Workforce correctly then in 2004 India had 0.6 of a medical physician for every 1000 people. Figures released yesterday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia in 2006 had 2.9 "full-time equivalent (FTE) medical practitioners" for every 1000 people.
We might be complaining in this country about the shortage of doctors - and Australia is still below the OECD average for physicians - but by comparison with Indians we appear to be well serviced. That is a conclusion that sits awkwardly with the decision last month by the Australian Medical Council to give a United States company a contract to open five exam centres in
So much for the supposed greater concern of a Labor Government to help the world's poor.
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