The Medical Council of New Zealand’s purpose is to protect the public by ensuring doctors are competent and fit to practise. We do this by:
• registering doctors
• setting standards to be met by practising doctors
• promoting lifelong learning for doctors
• reviewing concerns about a doctor’s competence, professional conduct, or health.
Our role is defined by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. Our functions include:
• maintaining a medical register of all registered doctors (practising and non-practising)
• issuing practising certificates to doctors who are fit to practice
• monitoring the training of medical students and new doctors to ensure their medical education is appropriate
• ensuring doctors undertake continuing learning and professional development
• assess a doctor’s performance in response to concerns expressed by a patient, colleagues, or other organisation
• impose conditions on, or suspend, a doctor’s practice if appropriate.