Nurses, doctors and retirees today combined to increase the pressure on the Federal Government to provide more funding to the States and Territories for public hospitals.

The Coalition for Public Hospitals and Medicare was formed in Sydney today by the NSW Nurses Association, Doctors Reform Society and Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association.  It will campaign in defence of Medicare and public hospitals up until the next federal election.  Other national health professional and consumer organisation are expected to join the coalition over the next few days.

The National Coalition joins the growing chorus of protest over federal health policy and its formation follows weeks of stand-off between the Federal Health Minister, Michael Wooldridge, and State and Territory health ministers over the new Medicare Agreement, which provides funds for Australia's public hospitals.

Following the collapse of yesterday's health ministers' Medicare Agreement talks, the Coalition will seek an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, ahead of next week's premiers' conference, to support the States' and Territories' case for increased health funding.

NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) general secretary, Sandra Moait, said Australians have made it clear at election after election that they like the current Medicare system and they want free-at-point-of-delivery universal-access public hospitals and primary health care.

"Health care should be available to all, irrespective of means.  It is a birth right, not something you should be forced to purchase" Ms Moait said.

"Public hospitals are highly efficient and cost-effective.  Talk of means testing for access to them and a crisis in the public health system is largely coming from those motivated by financial interests.  When you consider the needs of all the population, then there is no doubt they are best served by a strong public health system.  This means providing adequate funding under the Medicare Agreement.

"The Coalition agrees with the State and Territory health ministers that a massive injection of funds is required.  For a start the money being wasted on so-called private health insurance incentives should be redirected to public hospitals.  Public monies should go to public services" Ms Moait said.

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association spokesperson, Bill Whiley, said many pensioners are suffering from cuts to various parts of Medicare and the public hospital system.

"This is reflected in longer hospital waiting lists.  Our members are demanding that more money be given to Medicare and public hospitals within the current Medicare Agreement" Mr Whiley said.

Doctors Reform Society national president, Dr Con Costa, said most of his patients want a well-funded Medicare and public hospital system.

"Mr Howard has wasted $600 million trying to prop up the private health funds.  Even Victoria's premier, Jeff Kennett, has said the $600 million was 'money down the drain'.  This $600 million should be used for the public health system and Medicare.

"Those arguing for a private, user-pays health system should look closely at the United States where such a system exists.  Health care in the United States costs that country twice as much as Australia's universal, tax-funded Medicare system and still 50 million Americans, mainly children, have no health cover.

"Also health care administration costs in the United States are five times those of Australia's Medicare.  And 30 per cent profit margins are extracted by the big health care corporations at the expense of patient care" Dr Costa said.
 
11 March 1998

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