GPs: The Heart of Primary Care Reform
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, today said international studies prove that ensuring general practitioners remain at the centre of primary health care keeps patients well and saves lives.
Launching the AMA blueprint for the delivery of primary health care services in Australia, General Practice in Primary Care: Responding to Patient Needs, Dr Capolingua said research highlighted in the document busts the primary health care myths that have been encouraged to bloom.
"This blueprint demonstrates that, while GP services account for less than one-tenth of per capita expenditure on health care, GPs provide all the care needed for 90 per cent of the health problems they encounter," Dr Capolingua said.
"Not only does this prove that Australian patients receive top-quality health care from their family doctor, but it shows that the Government should view GPs as excellent value for money."
The blueprint outlines the steps that must be taken to maintain and improve access to high quality primary health care for all Australians including an urgent requirement to fund more training places for GPs.
"The answer to the present GP shortage is to train more GPs, not permanently reduce health standards across the country with 'next best thing' health policy.
"For the sake of our patients, we cannot accept a dilution in the standard of primary health care," Dr Capolingua said.
"Patients' needs must come ahead of cost-cutting.
"This fundamental focus on patients lies at the heart of this blueprint and at the heart of every general practice."
The blueprint can be found here.