The Chair of Te Ora is welcoming the support of other professional roopu for young Māori doctors.

Last week the Australasian College of surgeons announced scholarships and other support for Māori wanting to pursue a career in surgery.

Dr Rawiri Jansen says it’s a sign the investment that has been going into increasing the Māori medical workforce is paying off, with entrants to medical schools now close to demographic proportionality.

“We’ve got 15 percent of the populations Māori and 15 percent of kids going into med school are Māori so these next few years, we’re starting to see 20, 30, 40, 50 Maori graduates per year so really exciting times. The next step is obvious as well which is working with the colleges so the Māori Medical Practitioners Association – Te ORA are really pleased to be working with the College of Surgeons about building the Māori surgical workforce,” says Dr Rawiri Jansen.  Click here for sound byte>>