DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

13 September, 2005

Public Hospitals Miss Out Again

Yet another study has been released to show that the PHI rebate is failing to improve the services public hospitals are able to provide to the majority of Australians, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society

Despite the increased amount of work being done in private hospitals since the PHI rebate was introduced, it has made no appreciable difference to the experiences of patients waiting in the long queues for admission to the public hospitals, said Dr Woodruff.

The election promise of a higher rebate for the elderly will not change these facts:

·        The PHI rebate provides choice for the minority of Australians who can afford PHI.

·        It fills the pockets of private hospitals and the professionals who work in them.

·        It takes desperately needed staff from the public sector to do that extra work.

·        It has been associate with a regular over inflation yearly premium increase despite the promise of downward pressure on premiums

·        It has failed to reduce waiting times in public hospitals

·        It is economically irresponsible use of $2.5 billion every year, easily better spent supporting the much more efficient public system

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Dr Con Costa

Vice President

Doctors Reform Society