DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

“Reports that corporate medical centres are over-servicing patients and making large profits at taxpayers’ expense should come as no surprise”

 said Dr Tim Woodruff, President of The Doctors Reform Society.

The Howard Governments’ own scoping study on corporate medical centres, six years ago detailed the dangers of such centres.

“It is high time the government acted on this issue which wastes taxpayer dollars and overtreats patients, sometimes dangerously”, said Dr Tim Woodruff.

 “The “for profit” motivation of a corporate medical centre is a perfect recipe for the overservicing documented,” said Dr Woodruff.

“Once you introduce private shareholders and/or investors into the medical system, the drive is to maximise profit.”

“It is time for the Health Minister to act to stop this waste and protect patients being exposed to over-investigation and overtreatment.” said Dr Woodruff.

“Medicare should focus on the patient and health needs. Taxpayers’ money must be directed to these ends not higher returns for investors” said Dr Woodruff.