To the Editor: I commend Wijeratne and Earl1 for drawing attention to the retirement issues faced by doctors. Psychological issues are compounded by the lack of legislative provision for doctors to progressively step down from the demands of full registration. Reducing workload is not a simple matter. The impediments to maintaining registration while reducing workload include recency of practice requirements and up to 73 hours per annum of continuing professional development (CPD) for physicians2 — far exceeding that of other health practitioners.
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- 1. Wijeratne C, Earl J. A guide for medical practitioners transitioning to an encore career or retirement. Med J Aust 2021; 214: 12–14. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/214/1/guide‐medical‐practitioners‐transitioning‐encore‐career‐or‐retirement
- 2. Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 2021 MyCPD Framework. https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default‐source/fellows/cpd/2021‐mycpd‐framework.pdf?sfvrsn=a11f81a_6 (viewed Dec 2021).
- 3. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Ahpra glossary. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Support/Glossary.aspx (viewed Dec 2021).
- 4. Hawson G. Attitudes to retirement and registration: survey results. RDMA Newsletter 2018; February. http://www.rdma.org.au/RDMA_Newsletter_FEB_2018.pdf (viewed Dec 2021).
- 5. Pennsylvania Medical Society. Volunteer licenses: what physicians should know. https://www.pamedsoc.org/list/articles/volunteer‐medical‐license‐pennsylvania (viewed Dec 2021).
- 6. Australian Medical Association Queensland. Health vision. Part 2: workforce and training. https://qld.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/QLD/PDFs/AMA%20Queensland%20Health%20Vision%20Part%202.pdf (viewed Dec 2021).
- 7. National Pro Bono Resource Centre. Engaging retired and career‐break lawyers in pro bono; February 2010. https://probonocentre.org.au/wp‐content/uploads/2015/09/Retired‐and‐career‐break‐lawyers‐project‐_electronic‐version_.pdf (viewed Dec 2021).
- 8. Queensland Law Society. Practising certificates. https://www.qls.com.au/Practising‐law‐in‐Qld/Regulation/Practising‐Certificates (viewed Dec 2021).
I am the President of the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association and Chair of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) QLD Senior Doctor Craft Group and AMA QLD Senior Active Doctor Working Group.