AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

AMENDMENT MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 1930-1950

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

No. 9 of 1954

	The main purpose of these amendments to the Medical Practitioners Registration Ordinance is to add to the qualifications required under this Ordinance for registration as a medical practitioner within the Australian Capital Territory.  Section 21 is being amended to ensure that only persons who have completed a period of at least one year’s service as a medical officer in a hospital or have had equivalent training or experience and who are otherwise eligible for registration, shall be entitled to registration.  Provision is being made in Section 38 for persons who are unable to satisfy this requirement, but who are otherwise eligible for registration, to be appointed as a medical officer at the Canberra Community Hospital with the power to sign death certificates.

	The opportunity is being taken to amend section six so that a quorum may be prescribed which will give a reasonable result notwithstanding that the membership of the Board may vary between three and six members.  The new section six provides that a quorum of the Board will consist of a majority of the members.

	The amendment to Section 24 is prompted by the need to reduce the size of the Commonwealth Gazette.  As with the Dentists Registration Ordinance no useful purpose is served by the requirement that a copy of the register of medical practitioners registered under the Medical Practitioners Ordinance be published in the Gazette each year.  The new section 24 provides that a certificate of registration is evidence of registration.