Howard Government's plans for Medicare

AS a GP, I am deeply concerned that the Howard Government's plans for Medicare (29/4) will produce worse health outcomes.

 Consider cancer of the cervix. Australia saves an enormous amount of money and patient suffering through its preventive PAP screening program. Women can get a PAP smear every two years free. Early abnormalities are detected and dealt with before expensive interventions are required. We are at world best practice with this cancer.

Under Howard's plan, women who are not eligible for a health card and who do not have private health insurance will be slugged in two ways when presenting for their PAP smear.

They will pay whatever the GP decides to charge as a co-payment and whatever the pathology service decides to charge as a co-payment for reporting on the test. These women will be out of pocket $30-$50.

Many will have a more immediate need like childcare and, since they don't feel sick, will not have the test.

In the medium to long term, cancer of the cervix cases will rise. Howard is presenting a malignant health policy and, true to form, calling it "fairer" and "universal".

 Dr Theo van Lieshout

The Australian

30 April 2003