NZ: Commission to study pay, conditions for junior drs

Junior doctors, or resident medical officers who work in hospitals, are involved in a long-running pay dispute and have taken industrial action in recent months.

Stephen McKernan, the Director-General of Health, announced on Thursday that the Resident Doctors Commission would be set up to provide evidence-based recommendations on how hospitals employed and paid the junior doctors.

He said the District Health Boards that are negotiating with the doctors had suggested its formation.

"We need to find sustainable ways to train, employ and pay junior doctors in New Zealand and ensure we have a workforce that meets the changing needs of our health system, now and in the future," he said.

Health Minister David Cunliffe said it was "an exciting new initiative" and a great opportunity for the junior doctors to be involved in their future.

He called on them to engage in a process that would bring about changes to their career pathways.

"Junior doctors should benefit from this broader discussion, whatever the current state of the pay talks," he said.

McKernan said he expected to be able to announce the terms of reference for the commission by the end of the month.