Lack of financial incentives causes medical professionals to leave NT: AMA

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says medical professionals are leaving the Northern Territory because financial incentives are not generous enough.

The AMA's Paul Bauert says two renal physicians, a paediatrician, two physicians, an oncologist, an obstetrician, an opthamologist and two surgeons have all left the Northern Territory recently.

He says Queensland is offering generous pay and conditions with some specialists getting up to 80 per cent more money, as well as better professional support.

Mr Bauert says Northern Territory health bureaucrats are trying to silence debate on work force issues and it is time they confronted reality.

"It's not savoury to be talking about money, but I'm afraid it's the cold hard facts that if we do want to attract the best of the best which Territorians deserve then we really have to be competitive with other states," he said.