The Medical Board of Australia wants every late-career doctor to undergo mandatory health checks, pointing to figures showing that rates of patient complaints increase dramatically as doctors age.

Under the regulator’s preferred plan, doctors aged 70 and over would undergo an assessment by their GP every three years before becoming yearly for those doctors over the age of 80.

Given the current demographics in the medical workforce, some 7000 doctors would be affected, with the costs being met from their own pockets.

The board’s consultation paper, released today, says the rate of notifications related to health impairments is more than three times higher for those doctors aged 70 and over compared with their younger colleagues.