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4th Jun 2016
Another unhealthy budget to kick low and middle income earners
“Last night’s budget locked in tax breaks for companies and above average earners, and confirmed the funding attacks on public hospitals, primary care, dental care, and education, including the $80 billion previous cuts to health and education”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, vice president, Doctors Reform Society. Increasing the division between high and low/middle income earners leads to poorer health outcomes irrespective of spending on health care, but when it is combined with direct cuts to public funding it is a clear signal that this Government has minimal interest in the health of those who cannot afford private health care.
24th Apr 2016
Government dental plan to keep kids toothless
“The Turnbull Government’s announcement of a supposed increase in public dental funding is an outrageous attack on the dental health of millions of Australians, especially children,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, vice president, Doctors Reform Society. The claim that this is a boost to dental funding hides the fact that it is only a boost after the cuts of the Abbott/Turnbull Governments. The claim that it increases the number of those eligible hides the fact that the increased number of eligible children will now have to wait years on public waiting lists because the public system simply doesn’t have enough dentists or other resourcesto service the extra millions of patients.
4th Apr 2016
Chronic Disease Health Plan 1 Step Closer To 2 Tiered Health System
CHRONIC DISEASE HEALTH PLAN
1 STEP CLOSER TO 2 TIERED HEALTH CARE
“The release yesterday by the Federal Government of a completely different way for funding the care of patients with chronic disease is on the surface, a very welcome change in direction with the capacity to improve health care”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, Doctors Reform Society. “But the reality is different. This Government is determined to make our health system two tiered by increased involvement of the private health insurance (PHI) industry.
30th Mar 2016
Progressive Equitable Public Hospital Policies Welcome
DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY
PROGRESSIVE EQUITABLE PUBLIC HOSPITAL POLICIES WELCOME
“The announcement today by the Australian Greens that the Private Health Insurance (PHI) rebate should be abolished and redirected into our under resourced public health system is welcome news for all Australians”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, Doctors Reform Society.
10th Feb 2016
Medicare Sell Off: Now its Mediprofit
MEDICARE SELL OFF: NOW IT’S MEDIPROFIT
“Reports today that the Coalition Government is considering the privatisation of the Medicare billing system should send a shudder through the hearts of every Australian,” said Dr Peter Davoren, president, Doctors Reform Society. “Does this Government have any idea of the challenges for the elderly and disadvantaged in our community when faced with new technology? Will a Chinese company own access to all the personal data of Medicare?”
18th Jan 2016
Government Should Act to Regulate Chiropractors
The article in the MJA Insight calling for the sacking of the Chiropractic Board because of inadequate regulation of their members will hopefully give the Federal Government a stimulus to act to protect the public from potentially dangerous advice and practice, said Dr Peter Davoren, president, Doctors Reform Society. For several years some (but not all) chiropractors have been advertising the ‘dangers’ of vaccination in complete disregard for the policies of the Australian Government and its Department of Health. The Chiropractic Board has failed to act to control their rogue members and the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA) has failed to appropriately regulate the Chiropractic Board, suggesting it doesn’t have the legal power to do so.
15th Dec 2015
Federal Government Kicks the Poor and Middle Class Again With More Copayments for Health
“The announcement that bulk billing incentives for pathology and radiology will be cut is a kick in the guts to those who struggle daily and weekly with their medical bills”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, Doctors Reform Society. “As doctors we need to have our patients undergo tests to diagnose their problems, to keep them safe when we start potentially dangerous treatments, and to ensure that the treatments we are giving are working properly. These new cuts will just make it harder to give all Australians the care they deserve.”
8th Nov 2015
Government Review of Private Health Insurance: Height of Hypocrisy
The Federal Government is considering allowing private health funds to cover GP visits. This is the height of hypocrisy claims the Doctors’ Reform Society. DRS President Dr Peter Davoren said “the Government is worrying about co-payments for people who can afford private health insurance when at the same time it is claiming price barriers are essential to reduce overuse of GPs and is forcing GPs away from bulk-billing by freezing the Medicare rebate for GP visits”.