Media Releases

“Our Government is leaving poorer countries without sufficient vaccines and ignoring the fact that COVID-19 is a global crisis, not a country problem,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “This lack of concern by our government about COVID-19 in poorer countries is a disaster waiting to happen. Mutations are already occurring with the risk of more virulent and resistant variants emerging, especially in countries where infection rates are high. These dangerous strains could spread to us and the rest of the world. This virus does not respect borders or wealth.” said Dr Woodruff. Read more

“The announcement that unemployment benefits will increase just $25 a week, leaving 1.6 million Australians living in poverty, is a sad testament to the hypocrisy of the federal government”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “Poverty kills, but it only kills the poor.” Read more

“The Federal Government is about to pass legislation to further punish refugees and asylum seekers currently in detention centres in Australia”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.  “It is going to take their mobile phones from them. It is giving them more power to punish them for just seeking refuge in our country. Phones are a huge connection for these people, our fellow human beings, as they connect them to the world outside their detention centre. This has massive health benefits for them but the Government seems determined to further undermine their mental and physical health.” Read more

“It was great to hear the Prime Minister announce today that compulsory bulk billed telemedicine will be available to all Australians and will be extended to providers other than doctors”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “But we need to extend this to asylum seekers who don’t have either Medicare or money, and to people caught here on tourist and working visas who may get no cover from their private health insurance if they have it.”

“We need to look after these people for their sake but also for the sake of our own community,” said Dr Woodruff. “We don’t want these people to have COVID 19 in the community, not being treated until they are very sick, possibly putting at risk the whole community. They are not to blame for their situation. They too need our help. We need their co-operation.”

“The recent introduction of Covid-19 related rebates for telemedicine with compulsory bulk billing for many patients is a great advance but simply not enough”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “We need much more.”

“We need all patients, not just the most vulnerable, to have bulk billed telemedicine in this evolving crisis”, said Dr Woodruff. “This needs to include asylum seekers and temporary residents and others who don’t have Medicare but who need and deserve support for the sake of our community’s safety and for their safety.” Read more

“We have an emerging threat. We have a worried population. General practices are at the forefront of the response,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “But we hear little to support them, either from the Federal or State Governments.”

“The WA Health Minister was reported as saying (West Australian, 5 March) that it was inappropriate that GPs were ‘rejecting’ patients who were concerned about COVID-19 and directing them to an Emergency Department”, said Dr Woodruff. “The Minister’s words sadly reflect a complete misunderstanding of first response carers in emergencies. Every surf life saver, paramedic, and emergency service worker knows that in an emergency, safety of the emergency responder is the first priority. What use is an electrocuted SES volunteer or a drowned surf life saver? What use is a GP who assesses a patient one day and dies a week later, having exposed his/her staff and family members to a potentially fatal infection?”

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“Suggestions that video consultations with GPs may soon be funded is just a start to what is needed to address the Covid-19 outbreak” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

“GPs and their staff will be the mainstay of limiting the spread and sorting out the huge flood of patients seeking advice and medical help as the crisis evolves”, said Dr Woodruff. “Hospitals will indeed be central for those who are sick, but to prevent hospitals being completely overwhelmed we need general practices to be funded and resourced to cope.” Read more

“We note with deep concern that the Federal Government has announced it is starting the privatisation process of the Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT)” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “This taxpayer funded and government run scheme which assesses what help our older Australians need, whether it be help in the home, or a move to supported accommodation. It has done this with the full knowledge that its own Royal Commission into Aged Care is deeply concerned about the appropriateness of market forces to deliver care to those needing Aged Care. It is planning a full report with funding recommendations by November 2020.” Read more