It has taken nearly 20 years but the RACGP has formally signed the deal taking back control of the $300 million GP training program from the hands of federal government.

In what was widely seen as a humiliation for the college, the government took over vocational training in 2001, partly in the belief that it was too expensive, partly because of the long-running fight over rural training.

It restricted the college’s role to setting the standards for GP training, with the government creating an independent body to oversee the training of registrars.

RACGP president Dr Harry Nespolon said the college last week secured a written agreement from the government guaranteeing the transition of general practice training over the next three years.