Just because the EGMs are over does not mean the dust has settled for the RACP’s leadership shakeup.
With the sun now setting on the leadership stoush at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, all parties involved have sworn to get back to brass tacks – but this board restructures still loom.
This comes after yesterday’s EGM that was poised to oust president-elect Dr Sharmila Chandran was met with a resounding 74% against vote that solidified member support for Dr Chandran.
This was the second attempt in less than a month to oust Dr Chandran from the role, with the last attempt at the end of October having also failed.
The college is now unanimously looking to progress other reform matters.
Current RACP president Professor Jennifer Martin is still set to retain her role until May next year and has promised members that the EGMs will not alter the duties of the board.
“An EGM result does not alter the duties of the Board, the responsibilities of its Directors, or the standards of conduct required in this College,” Professor Martin said in an email.
“Our College is not a parliament.
“The Board is not a cabinet, it does not operate on ministerial lines, and directors are not political rivals competing for executive authority.”
Professor Martin also claimed that discourse on the intent of the EGMs has been misdirected.
“In recent months, some conduct surrounding these EGMs has departed from factual accuracy, respectful debate, and professional norms,” Professor Martin said.
“Disagreement is legitimate, attempts to destabilise, overwhelm, intimidate or spread false or damaging claims are not.
“The RACP will address such behaviour through established processes, not through public argument.”
Dr Chandran has also expressed an eagerness to focus on member concerns as highlighted by the EGM results.
“As members have requested, I am very keen to restructure the college,” Dr Chandran told The Medical Republic.
“The level of dysfunction that we have gone through over the last few years, members have repeatedly said, the college is not serving [the members].”
Costs have been a key issue listed by members with concern growing after the four recent EGMs that each carried a $200,000 price tag.
Dr Chandran hopes now that restructuring the board will help to reduce administrative costs so that funds can be directed back to members.
“We don’t want conflicts between anybody, we want to restructure properly with the aim of reducing committees.
“Because if you have too many committees, that’s more staffing you need, and that’s more work, and that’s more resources.
“One person cannot do that, we need a board that’s healthy, and that the members can trust to move forward.”
