The Doctors' Reform Society calls for all major political parties to confirm their commitment to Medicare by affirming the following principles:

1. Bulk billing without co-payments must continue.

"Bulk-billing without co-payments allows all Australians to visit a doctor without up-front fees. Moves to restrict bulk-billing jeopardize universal access to health care. In addition the bulk billing rebate needs to be adequate for doctors to believe bulk billing is economically viable." said Dr Costa the National President of the Doctors Reform Society today.

2. Public hospital funding must be significantly improved.

"The public hospital system receives funding via the Medicare Agreement. Public hospitals have been starved of resources and this needs to be corrected." said Dr Costa today.

"The Doctors' Reform Society believes any party unable to make these commitments cannot claim to support Medicare." said Dr Costa.

written and seconded by Peter Davoren and Con Costa
3 September 1998