The hoops overseas doctors have to go through in order to be able to practice here have been exposed in one doctor’s open letter.

Claire Terblanche moved to our shores from South Africa last year, but despite having 14 years experience as a GP there, she has to sit two medical exams before she is allowed to practice here.

The catch is she has to wait until next year to take her second test.

Dr Tim Malloy, the President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, told Larry Williams that these systems were put in place by the Medical Council due to high profile cases where people got through the system and performed below par.

"In response to that, the medical council has put in place a relatively robust process to ensure that public safety is as secure as we could possibly make it." 

However, the Medical Council wants to see more effort put into getting immigrant GPs into work faster.

Chairman Andrew Connolly says the exams are only held three times a year and only cater to 28 people at a time.

"Exam dates, it's always possible for us to look at that, and part of it is based on demand so that is something we are flexible about."

Connolly is urging Terblanche to contact the Medical Council in the hope she might be able to start practising sooner.

LISTEN TO TIM MALLOY TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE