Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs) and Foreign Graduates of Accredited Medical Schools (FGAMS) who gained their first medical registration or became permanent Australian residents or citizens on or after 1 January 1997 are not eligible for a Medicare provider number for a period of 10 years.
What does this mean?
It means that if you wish to work in private practice and be issued a Medicare provider number to enable your patients to access Medicare benefits, you must wait for a period of 10 years.
Can you be exempted from this rule?
You can only be exempted from this rule if you work in a District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) area. DWS areas are determined by the Department of Health and are generally not in metropolitan areas