(1) A medical practitioner is taken to be recognised as a specialist in a particular specialty (other than general practice), for the purposes of this Act, if a relevant organisation in relation to the specialty gives the Chief Executive Medicare written notice stating that the medical practitioner meets the criteria for the specialty (see subsection (2)).
(2) A medical practitioner meets the criteria for a specialty if the medical practitioner:
(a) is domiciled in Australia; and
(b) is a fellow of a relevant organisation in relation to the specialty (other than general practice); and
(c) has obtained, as a result of successfully completing an appropriate course of study, a relevant qualification in relation to the relevant organisation.
(3) The Chief Executive Medicare must notify the medical practitioner as soon as reasonably practicable of his or her recognition as a specialist in the specialty (other than general practice).
(4) This section does not limit section 3DB.
(5) In this section:
"relevant organisation" , in relation to a specialty (other than general practice), means an organisation declared by the regulations to be a professional organisation in relation to the specialty.
"relevant qualification" , in relation to a relevant organisation, means a qualification declared by the regulations to be a relevant qualification in relation to the relevant organisation.