Revalidation - what is the problem and what are the possible solutions?

The proposed introduction of a revalidation process as part of renewal of medical registration in Australia needs wide debate. The revalidation process that began in the United Kingdom in 2012 is premised on a need to regain the trust of the community and to promote participation in continuing professional development. These alone are not justifiable grounds for introducing a similar process in Australia. There are good reasons to argue that existing processes and databases should be used to determine more accurately what the weaknesses in Australia's medical regulatory regime are and to tailor improvements to those weaknesses.