The President of the Doctors Reform Society. Dr Con Costa today agreed with Mr Kennett when he said that the $600 million used to try to prop up the private health funds was "money down the drain" and could result in the death of Medicare.

"The Prime Minister, Mr Howard has agreed that the $600 million that he has wasted trying to prop up the failing private health funds has failed.  It is now time for Mr Howard to keep his promise to maintain Medicare by putting the $600 million into Medicare instead of the private health funds.  Medicare and public hospitals are being starved of funding.  The $600 million per year would end all public hospital waiting lists in Australia" said Dr Costa.

"Australians have voted for Medicare in elections, time and time again.  They are now voting with their wallets by leaving the expensive private health funds for Medicare.  Mr Howard must listen to the people and stop trying to prop up a luxury private health industry and put the $600 million into Medicare and Public Hospitals" said Dr Costa.

"If Mr Howard continues to prop up the private health funds, we, as doctors, warn that his next step will be to impose a Medicare surcharge on battlers earning $20,000 a year or more, if they don't have private insurance" said Dr Costa.

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