DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

13 January 2004

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS RISE AGAIN: MORE TAXES WASTED WHILE PUBLIC HOSPITALS STRUGGLE

“News that private health insurance premiums will rise another 8% this year means that another $170 million of taxes will be paid yearly into the coffers of the grossly inefficient private health insurance (PHI) industry,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “This is on top of the $2.2 billion PHI rebate already being wasted yearly by the Howard Government. This is to support the minority 43% of Australians who can afford PHI, to enable them to jump the public hospital queues caused by the Howard Government.”

“Meanwhile public hospitals throughout Australia are desperately short of funds and doctors,” said Dr Woodruff. “Instead the funds are going to private hospitals and doctors are following, all because the Howard Government wants to turn our public hospitals into a saggy `safety net’.”

“It’s time to re-examine how wasteful the PHI rebate is and how much better it could be spent addressing the health needs of all Australians,” said Dr Woodruff

Dr Con Costa

Vice President

Doctors Reform Society

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Doctors Reform Society