What advocacy measures is RANZCO taking to ensure the safety of our members and the public?

In 2020, RANZCO wrote to the Chief Medical Officers of Australia and New Zealand and state CMOs in Australia requesting priority access to government stocks of masks. In those early days, stocks were limited and not readily made available. In 2021, this has not been a major challenge.

RANZCO has written to State authorities in Australia seeking the extension of driver’s licenses for all requiring a vision test as a temporary measure to assist those in the community who need to be able to take care of themselves and support others as needed.

To protect health care workers and patients, RANZCO issued a joint statement with other Colleges in late March 2020 to stop non-urgent elective surgery. Joint media release: Colleges Call Out Government on Elective Surgery.

In the following month, as the COVID-19 curve flattened and the government announced the re-commencement of elective surgery, RANZCO released a statement to the media in support of this decision.

In September 2021, RANZCO endorsed the Doctors Stand Up For Vaccination letter in support of vaccination against COVID-19 for all eligible New Zealanders.