Plibersek 'confident' of intern deal

24 Oct 2012, 10:00 am   -   Source: AAP

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek is confident she can reach a deal with at least some states to provide additional medical internships in 2013.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek is confident a deal can be struck with at least some states and territories to resolve the ongoing medical intern crisis.

She says those states that don't play ball will suffer as a result.

There is a shortfall of 180 internships for Australian-trained international students in 2013.

The federal government in late September offered to provide one-off funding of $10 million for 100 extra places in the private sector, but only if the states and territories contributed around $8 million for the remaining 80 positions.

So far they've refused, with the states arguing the shortage is the commonwealth's problem because it increased student numbers in the first place.

But Ms Plibersek insists it's time for the states and territories to "step-up".

"I'm pretty confident we can reach agreement with a number of the states," she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

"And those states will benefit more than states who aren't prepared to compromise and contribute to what is a shared responsibility."

Ms Plibersek said it was "beyond comprehension" that the states and territories didn't want the extra interns in their hospitals given current doctor shortages.

"It's nuts," she said.

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