Mr McKENZIE (Diamond Valley) asked the Minister for Health, upon notice:

(1)   Is it a fact that 8 per cent of practising doctors in Australia have been trained in Asian or African Medical Schools.

(2)   Can he say what is the doctor-population ration in (a) Asia, (b) Africa and '(c) Australia.

(3)   How many Asian or African-trained doctors entered Australia during 1972.

(4)   How many Asian or African-born students graduated from Australian Medical Schools in 1972.

(5)   How many students returned to Asia or Africa after graduating from Australian Medical Schools in 1972. <6) Is the medical course at Australian universities considered appropriate for Asian medical students returning to Asia, in view of its low emphasis on tropical medicine, public health and pediatrics.

Dr Everingham - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows-

(1)   Yes.

(2)   (a) and (b) This information is not available to my Department. (2) (c) A survey conducted by my Department indicates a doctor-population ratio of 1:721 as at 30 June 1972.

(3)   This information is not available to my Department.

(4)   The Acting Commonwealth Statistician has estimated that in the final year of medical courses at Australian universities in 1972, out of a total of over 900 students, there were no African students and 67 students whose home residence was in Asia.

(5)   This information is not available to my Department.

(6)   Medical courses at Australian universities are designed to train future medical practitioners in clinical techniques appropriate to an Australian environment. As a consequence many features of these courses may not be considered appropriate for Asian medical students who intend to return home after graduation.