Thousands of health professionals are being actively monitored by authorities because they have a criminal history, drug problem, health impairment, or because they are not suitably qualified for their job. New data shows 5702 health professionals, including doctors, nurses and dentists, were being watched by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency last financial year because of concerns about their conduct. Doctors, nurses and Chinese medicine practitioners made up the bulk of those being monitored and the most common reason was their “suitability and eligibility” for the job. This could mean they do not hold an approved or substantially equivalent qualification in their profession, lack English language skills, or do not fully meet the requirements of any other approved registration standard.
