The Doctors' Reform Society (DRS) today challenged Prime Minister John Howard to declare the Coalition's stand on Medicare and bulk-billing.

"There are plenty of signs that Howard doesn't really approve of the bulk-billing system. Since 1976 the Coalition has repeatedly tried to dismantle the free services guaranteed by the Medicare system," said DRS National President Dr Tim Woodruff.

"We don't even know who the next Health Minister will be," Dr Woodruff added. "Dr Wooldridge had some respect for Medicare. For all we know, his successor will carry a hatchet. Voters should consider whether they want to start looking around for cash when they get sick,"

DRS NSW President Dr Con Costa highlighted recent comments by Mr. Howard praising the pre-Medicare system, in which patients were charged for medical services on each occasion.

"The old system was working for 90 per cent of the population ...," Mr Howard said, adding that by introducing Medicare, "we dismantled a perfectly functioning health system" (SMH 27 Oct. 2001, p17).

All the polls show that few Australians share the Prime Minister's perception, Dr.Costa observed. "Medicare is very popular," he said. "My patients have enough financial worries without having to budget for doctors' bills. Apparently Mr. Howard has not been talking to these people."

The Howard government had in fact begun undermining the bulk-billing system, by underfunding the rebate for GPs, according DRS Vice President Dr. Con Costa. "You can see the effects already: many practices have stopped bulk billing," Dr Costa said. "In some country towns, there is now not a single doctor who bulk bills. We're afraid that the Coalition will soon take this process further and bulk billing will disappear."

The Question for Mr Howard

"Will the Prime Minister commit his party unequivocally to the full retention of Medicare Bulk-Billing as a 'core commitment.' Will he promise that the present system will not be whittled away through surcharges or co-payments? Australians deserve to know.

6 November 2001

CONTACT: Dr Tim Woodruff
President, Doctors Reform Society

Dr Con Costa
Vice President, Doctors Reform Society

Dr Peter Davoren
Vice President, Doctors Reform Society

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