Medical board responds to AMA call for recognition of VR GPs as ‘specialist GPs’

The AMA has welcomed the decision by the Medical Board of Australia to include vocationally registered GPs on the specialist register of the new national registration scheme that takes effect from 1 July 2010.

The AMA last week wrote to the board recommending that VR GPs be given specialist general practitioner status [read here]. AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, says that the board has made the right decision.

VR GPs will join Fellows of the RACGP and some Fellows of ACRRM as specialist GPs.

Dr Pesce says that the board has recognised the high-quality patient care that is being provided by over 11,000 hard working VR GPs across the country who, for historical reasons, do not hold the Fellowship qualifications.

The AMA sees this recognition as a transitional arrangement under the new scheme, and recognises the importance of the RACGP and ACRRM Fellowships, and believes these should be the benchmark for recognition of specialist general practitioners in the future.

GPs’ access to A1 Medicare rebates will not be affected by the registration arrangements. Read more

General practice pharmacies – a positive health reform for patients

The AMA is calling on the Federal Government to legislate to allow doctors to own and operate pharmacies.

Dr Pesce said this week that co-locating pharmacies within, adjacent to, or in close proximity to a general practice – under the ownership of the doctor – would provide significant benefits and convenience to patients.

Dr Pesce believes that incorporating pharmacy services into general practice would improve patient care by enabling GPs to lead a team of co-located health professionals, including pharmacists and general practice nurses, in providing multi-disciplinary health care to patients at the local community level.

The AMA’s proposal would enable each health professional to work to their full potential in a well-supported environment. Patient care would be integrated and patients would be seen by the right health professional, at the right time, for the right treatment and health care advice.
 
Under the proposal pharmacists would retain the professional responsibility for dispensing medicines. Dr Pesce said that patient medication management would improve through the close cooperative relationship between the doctor and the pharmacist.  Read more

AMACGP meets in Canberra

The AMA Council of General Practice held its first meeting for the year last weekend. The issues  discussed included: primary health care organisations; the Medical Board of Australia’s GP specialist register; point-of-care testing; and pharmacies in general practice. Changes were made to the AMA Fees List in response to the outcomes of the Government’s MBS simplification process.

Nominations for election to AMA Federal Council now open

The AMA is inviting nominations for area nominees, craft group nominees (including general practice) and special interest group nominees for the elections to AMA Federal Council for the period of May 2010 - May 2012. Nominations close on Wednesday 10 March at 5.00pm AEDT.

For a copy of a nomination form or any general enquiries please contact Fran McMurray, Office of the Secretary General and Executive at fmcmurray@ama.com.au.