"Cancer plus"

 

Australia has one of the lowest rates of cancer of the cervix in the world. This is partly due to early prevention. A two-yearly Pap smear test for women detects pre-cancer and simple treatment eradicates it. The test is free at bulk-billing general practices.

 

The Government health policy proposal, Medicare Plus, makes it less likely non-health-card-holding women over 16 years of age will be bulk-billed. Pap smears become relevant to women in the 16-50 year age group.

 

Now, women will have to pay $45 for the GP visit and about $50 for a Pap smear pathology test. If they are women with young children, $95 will invariably be directed to an immediate childhood need rather than the woman herself.

 

Medicare Plus will, if implemented, result in increased rates of cancer of the cervix in the medium to long term. Such is the disarray of the Coalition's health policy that the health of Australians becomes secondary to antiquated, simplistic, user-pays, market-determined health model.

 

Large newspaper ads from the Government say "Medicare is here to stay". If the Government thinks that Australians believe this, it needs its head read.

 

Published in The Australian

25 Nov 2003

Theo van Lieshout