DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Wednesday, 11 May 2005

PATIENTS NEED TAX CUTS TO AFFORD PROPER HEALTH CARE

“The budget tax cuts are desperately needed by our patients faced by increasing pharmaceutical bills, increased doctors’ charges, an already weakened and inadequate general safety net, a further erosion of the PBS safety net, and for those who can just afford it, yearly 7% increases in private health insurance premium,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society

The largest tax cuts have gone to those who can easily afford private health care at almost any cost,” said Dr Woodruff. “The smallest have gone to those who struggle weekly with decisions about whether to fill out the prescription this week, next week, or not at all.”

“Our public hospitals are desperate for funds, but have been ignored. Aged care patients continue to languish in expensive public hospital beds because there are no aged care places for them. They have been all but ignored,” said Dr Woodruff. “Despite the millions promised prior to the election to improve primary care the main gain has been to doctors incomes rather than to affordable access for patients.”

“Instead of this tax relief, mainly to the rich, some of the huge surplus could have been directed to our under-resourced public health system. It would be cheaper and fairer.”

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Doctors Reform Society