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"Fair-go society means free go at medical care"

 John Howard's recent utterings on Medicare indicate his utter contempt for the people. Not only is he clearly breaking a promise to maintain Medicare, but he is attempting to rewrite the history of Medicare to suit his own purposes.

The Coalition opposed the introduction of Medibank and opposed the introduction of Medicare. At every election to 1993, it proposed to dismantle Medicare. Only when the Coalition changed its no-Medicare policy did it win a federal election. Despite Howard's "promises" to maintain Medicare, he has systematically white-anted a world-standard public health system. He has ensured access to GPs has become more difficult for most and next to impossible for some.

 Australia's health bill has sky-rocketed during Howard's leadership but our health hasn't improved much. The less well off (usually the most sick) have had their access to health services severely restricted and those forced and cajoled into private health insurance have seen good money go after bad.

 The only groups supporting the Government's policies are the AMA, the private hospitals, the pharmaceutical companies and the private health insurance industry. Of course, they all have a vested interest.

A universal public health system, paid for by all and available to all, is what we have voted for and what we should demand.

Dr Peter Davoren

Doctors' Reform Society

The Australian

6 March 2003