The Doctors Reform Society objects to the $10 million of public money being spent on misleading advertising for private health insurance which misrepresents Australia's health care alternatives.

"The 'Minister for Private Health Insurance', Dr Michael Wooldridge, may be happy to be chanelling $1.7 billion into his favourite industry in the form of a 30% rebate" said Dr Peter Davoren, National President of the Doctors Reform Society, "but it would have been fairer to point out in his latest $50 million advertising campaign - courtesy of the tax-payer - that Australians are already covered by health insurance via tax-funded Medicare".

"People are being frightened into taking out private health insurance. In the Australian context, this is a luxury" said Dr Davoren.

"Particularly young, healthy people are being targeted into an expensive product they don't need" said Dr Davoren.

"We feel that the Government's advertising campaign on behalf of the private health insurance industry is dishonest. The money that is being spent on this exercies is not curing a singel patient. It would make much more sense to spend it on public hospitals." said Dr Davoren.

Dr Peter Davoren
Dr Con Costa
Dr Tim Woodruff

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