"The appointment of Dr Barry Catchlove as the new chair of the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) is, to say the least, very disturbing" said Dr Con Costa, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

" He has until recently been deeply involved in the privatisation of Australia’s public hospitals and in contracting out all medical services. Our understanding is that he retains a high executive position in Mayne Nickless, a company which now has $1 billion invested in Australia’s health care system, with large interests in pathology services (largely paid through the HIC)." said Dr Costa.

"It demonstrates clearly this Government’s desire to sell off the public health care system. Dr Catchlove is obviously someone whose interests will conflict with the ideals of public service" said Dr Costa.

"The Government is attempting to ensure that for the duration of Dr Catchlove’s contract, services will be skewed in the direction of private facilities" said Dr Costa.

"This is bad news for those people (the majority) who depend on the public health system" said Dr Costa.

" Even the most neutral of observers would raise their eyebrows on hearing of this appointment" said Dr Costa.

August 10 1998