DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Thursday, 6 April 2006 

HALF MEASURES FOR MENTAL HEALTH WELCOME

   “Yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister to inject $1.8 billion into mental health over 4 years is welcome as an indicator that mental health is finally recognised by the Commonwealth is a significant issue,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

   “One third of that will go to funding Medicare access to psychologists which recognises the importance of psychologists in the management of mental illness, but is a very wasteful and inequitable funding mechanism as it means funds are distributed to where psychologists are, rather than to where patients with the greatest need are,” said Dr Woodruff. 

   “The amount committed is only one quarter of that recommended to address the problem but is a start. Each year the Federal Government finds five times that amount to fund the inefficient and inequitable private health insurance rebate. It has a huge budget surplus. It can do better,” said Dr Woodruff. 

   “The three challenges now are to get the level of commitment up to what has been recommended by the bipartisan Senate Inquiry, to get State Governments to commit to funding increases, and to get the State and Federal Governments to work together rather than to make unilateral politically motivated announcements.”

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society