Ensuring the professions of medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology deliver safe and effective services to the people of New Zealand
The Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand (formerly known as the Medical Laboratory Science Board) is one of sixteen New Zealand health regulation authorities appointed by the Minister of Health under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). The Council is responsible for the administration of the Act in regard to two separate health professions - the profession of medical laboratory science and the profession of anaesthetic technology.
The primary responsibility of the Council is to protect the health and safety of the New Zealand public by ensuring practitioners registered in the professions of medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology are competent and fit to practise.
The Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand is repsonsible to the Minister of Health for administration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 in respect of the professions of medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology.
The Council is comprised of ten members: six members are registered in the profession of medical laboratory science; one member is a registered pathologist; three members are laypersons. Representation of the anaesthetic technology profession is still pending.
Members are appointed by the Minister of Health for a term of three years. A member can be re-appointed for a further three-year term up to a maximum of three consecutive terms (i.e. nine years in total).
In 2006 the Medical Sciences Council joined forces with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board and formed a jointly-owned not-for-profit company, Medical Sciences Secretariat (MSS), through which all business support services are provided to these two regulatory authorities.
When it came into effect on 18 September 2003, the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act built on the framework created by earlier legislation, particularly the Medical Practitioners Act 1995. The core concepts of the Medical Practitioners Act were carried forward into the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act) and adjusted to generic terms that provide a framework applicable to all health practitioners, not just doctors.
The Council publishes an annual report for each year commencing 1 April and finishing on 31 March of the following year. These reports summarise the key activities undertaken by the Council in that period and provide a full set of audited financial statements.
Within the profession of medical laboratory science, you can gain employment as a registered medical laboratory scientist or a registered medical laboratory technician.
