IMGs are being left to flounder with inadequate support because they working in general practice under the supervision of doctors who aren’t qualified GPs, it’s being claimed.

Under existing Medical Board of Australia rules, an IMG on limited registration can be supervised by any doctor provided they have “training and experience suitable to be a supervisor”.

This can include doctors with only three years’ general registration .

Two GP supervisors — Dr Gerard Ingham and Dr Caroline Johnson — say the system is flawed, with some doctors also working as GPs in rural areas with no supervision at all once they themselves attain general registration.