Indian docs in Qld. face racism: Min. says this not the Aussie way

By Shireen Shala

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 (Brisbane)

The Indian medical staff at the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland, Australia have complained of racism.Doctors maintain they have been facing this ever since Dr Mohd Haneef, who used to work in the hospital, has been questioned by the Australian police in connection with the foiled terror plot in the UK.

The medical staff belonging to the Indian community have lodged their protest with the local government.

The Indian community is hopeful of support from the government after Health Minister Stephen Robertson went on record saying that this was not the Australian way.

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Over the last week some doctors say patients have even refused to be treated by the Indian-trained medical staff accusing them of having terror links.

Great value

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson doesn’t completely rule out such incidents, but says Indian doctors are still greatly valued there.

The minister is concerned but says the issue hasn’t gone out of hand.

Robertson: I met with the overseas trained doctors working at Gold Coast last Friday and was pleased to hear them say that there had only been one or two occasions where patients said something untoward that perhaps may be seen as racism over the last week.

Unfortunately, there’s always a small minority in any society that holds those points of views. But the fact that it hadn’t occurred to a great extent I found it pleasing and after all that’s the Australian way.

NDTV: Will Queenlsand government review employment guidelines in the wake of Dr Haneef’s arrest and cut employment for overseas professionals?

Robertson: I don’t believe there is a need to do such a review. Queensland already has the toughest registration guidelines for overseas trained doctors like in any state in Australia.

They are a vital part of our public health system. Round about 14 per cent of doctors working in Queensland come from overseas and about 25 per cent of them actually come from India. So India is an important source for doctors. We want to continue to welcome them to Queensland.

NDTV: What does the Queensland government feel of the Indian doctors working there?

Robertson: We believe there’s a need to run a positive publicity campaign in Queensland to talk about the valuable role that overseas trained doctors play in our health system. You see doctors from India working in our major teaching hospitals.

You also see them working in some fairly remote small communities in western Queensland as well. India has been a great friend to Australia. I’m confident that is going to continue.

– NDTV (July 10, 2007)

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Neeraj Nanda

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