New specialty added for the first time in 15 years
Genetic pathology has become the 17th specialty, with approval from health ministers last month.
For the first time in 15 years, a new medical field has been added to the list of Australian specialties: genetic pathology.
It has become the 17th recognised specialty after a “rigorous” six-year process, including assessment by the Australian Medical Council, public consultation, a Medical Board of Australia recommendation and approval from the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council.
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia put forward the proposal, which was approved by health ministers in late June.
In its 2019 application, the college wrote that clinicians’ increasing use of genetic testing had escalated the need for doctors with expertise in this area.
