RACS commits to more Māori Surgeons

RACS commits to more Māori Surgeons

Monday 29 February, 2016

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has committed to increasing the number of Māori surgeons in New Zealand and promoting cultural competence as a core professional skill in its Trainees and Fellows as part of its newly developed Māori Health Action Plan.

The Action Plan, which also seeks to improve the surgical health of Māori, was developed following consultation with Māori medical organisations, including Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa.

Mr Jonathan Koea, an Auckland Hepatobiliary and General Surgeon and member of the Action Plan’s working group, said that the Action Plan represented a significant step forward for the College’s commitment to Māori health.

“At present, there are only a small number of surgeons in New Zealand who identify as Māori,” Mr Koea said. “The College’s aim is to significantly increase this number. This will take a sustained effort over years but I am confident that this can be delivered.”

One of the core aims of the Action Plan is to develop a more culturally appropriate surgical workforce for Māori. This includes redressing the under-representation of Māori surgeons and Trainees, and recognising the value of cultural diversity and cultural competence during the selection of all Trainees into surgery.

“New Zealand is currently producing record numbers of Māori doctors but very few pursue a career in surgery,” Mr Koea said. “One of the first steps for the College is to identify and eliminate barriers to surgery as a career that Māori doctors face. This can be done, for example, by providing mentors to better prepare Māori doctors who intend to apply for surgical training.”

The RACS Māori Health Action Plan also recognises that there is significant inequity facing Māori health.

“At present, there are considerable disparities in health outcomes between Māori and Pakeha. Māori, for example, have a greater incidence, mortality rate and lower intervention rates for cardiovascular disease and cancers, and a much shorter life expectancy overall.”

“Through the Action Plan, RACS intends to increase the number of Maori in the surgical workforce, embed cultural competency as a fundamental professional skill for surgeons, focus more surgical research into Māori Health and promote initiatives that will decrease the disparities that currently exist for Maori.”

ends

© Scoop Media