College statement on changes to Medical Council leadership

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) is concerned by the Minister’s comments about cultural safety being political ideology in relation to the change of board members at the Medical Council. The independence of the Medical Council as a regulator is fundamental to public trust, patient safety, and the integrity of medical standards in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Medical Council has a statutory responsibility to set standards of clinical and cultural competence, and ethical conduct for doctors. That work necessarily includes setting expectations around culturally safe care and improving health equity, particularly for Māori, who continue to experience significant and well-documented inequities in health outcomes. This all forms part of safe, competent and responsive medical practice.

The College stands firm that ensuring our workforce is well regulated and able to deliver culturally safe care and equitable outcomes for Māori must be a priority. This underpins the high standards of practice and patient safety our health system requires.

Ministers are entitled to make appointments, and those decisions should strengthen confidence in the independence of regulators. The College supports considered, independent professional regulation. We also reaffirm that cultural safety, equitable care, and improving Hauora Māori are essential components of high-quality general practice and of a health system that serves all New Zealanders well.