Clause 17

by deleting subsection (1) and substituting the following subsection:“(1) The Medical Council shall appoint a committee to be known as the Credentials Committee, consisting of not less than 3 members of the Medical Council, to —

scrutinise all applications for registration other than applications for registration as specialists and family physicians; and

undertake such other duties as the Medical Council thinks fit to assign to the Credentials Committee.”; and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsections:“(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3), the Credentials Committee may, by notice in writing, require an applicant —

to furnish such further information, documents or particulars as the Credentials Committee may require within the time specified in the notice; or

to submit to a medical examination to be conducted by a registered medical practitioner nominated or approved by the Medical Council within such time as may be specified in the notice.(5) The registered medical practitioner who conducts the examination referred to in subsection (4)(b) shall, within 14 days after the examination or such longer time as the Credentials Committee may allow, submit his report on the applicant’s fitness to practise medicine to the Credentials Committee.(6) Any applicant who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (4) within the time stated in the notice shall be deemed to have withdrawn his application.”.