"Yesterday's report of a woman who almost lost her life in public hospitals underlines what is happening to the whole public system in Australia" said Dr Con Costa, Vice President of the Doctors Reform Society. "And in addition, if bulk-billing is under threat today, it's nothing compared with what it's going to be tomorrow" he said.

" The whole system is being privatised. My impression is that none of the specialists bulk-bill, and that radiology, is only being bulk-billed under sufferance. This is also the case with pathology" said Dr Costa.

" If people are hurting now from these changes, the future's only going to be worse. Governments are selling out health to the private sector and it looks to me as if only the wealthy will be protected" said Dr Costa.

"This is the case in the US today, and all the indications are that that's where Australia will be tomorrow unless Governments make a real commitment to Medicare and our public hospitals" said Dr Costa.

21 August, 2001

CONTACT: Dr Con Costa
Vice President, Doctors Reform Society

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