DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

MEDIA RELEASE

18 October 2003

 

 

Architect of Medicare Warns of its Demise

 

At the National Conference of the Doctors Reform Society in Melbourne today, one of the architects of Medicare, Professor John Deeble, indicated that the current direction of health policy from the Howard Government is leading to a continuing decline in timely access to quality health services.

 

“Bulk billing rates will continue to decline under the proposed `A Fairer Medicare’ package,” said Professor Deeble. “Access to hospital services is already limited for those without private health insurance and the Government’s policies on Aged Care and general practice is leading to more problems in public hospitals. The $2.1 billion in taxes currently subsidising the private health insurance industry must be spent more wisely and fairly, for the benefit of all Australians.”

 

Dr Tim Woodruff, President of the Doctors Reform Society, said that the Government’s handling of the medical indemnity crisis is a further indication that it is not concerned about restoring or maintaining patients’ confidence in public hospitals.

 

Dr Ken Harvey, from Latrobe University’s School of Public Health, spoke of the imminent threat to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from the Government’s insistence that it should be part of the US Australia Free Trade Agreement. “ This will gradually lead to huge increases in what patients pay for their life saving medication”, said Dr Harvey. “$500 per month for diabetic treatment is common in the US, and that is where we are headed if the pharmaceutical companies get their way with this complicit Government.”

 

“The gradual but progressive privatisation of our health services is a disaster for the 57% of Australians who cannot afford private health insurance,” said Dr Woodruff. “But for those who can, it is important to remember that in an emergency or after an accident, it is the public system on which we all depend. Kerry Packer’s life was saved by a public hospital. We neglect the public system at our peril.”

 

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

 

 

For further information please contact the Doctors Reform Society during business hours

 

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