Doctors overwhelmingly reject Government’s plan for care for patients with diabetes – AMA survey

The AMA’s survey of GPs has revealed an overwhelming rejection of the Government’s proposed plan for care for patients with diabetes, with just four per cent of the respondents saying they would definitely participate in the new scheme.

The AMA survey was conducted across all states and territories, and with urban, regional, and rural and remote GPs, during June 2010.

AMA Vice President and Brisbane GP, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that the survey had reinforced the AMA’s strong opposition to the Government scheme – from day one, the AMA has said the scheme will not deliver better care for patients with diabetes.

Dr Hambleton said that the AMA has proposed a more comprehensive patient-centred plan for people with complex and chronic disease that recognises the importance of enhancing care for all people with chronic conditions, including diabetes.

The AMA survey produced a list of priorities that GPs believe will lead to better care for patients with complex and chronic disease. The top two priorities are cutting the red tape requirements for Medicare chronic disease items and introducing streamlined arrangements for GPs to refer patients to MBS-funded allied health services.

Dr Hambleton said the findings of the AMA survey are backed by a survey of diabetes patients conducted by Diabetes Australia-NSW, which showed that the majority of respondents would prefer to continue with current arrangements than move to the new Government scheme.

Find out more about the key findings of the AMA’s survey.

Next week is Family Doctor Week

Family Doctor Week will be running from 19-25 July 2010. Family Doctor Week falls during an intense health reform debate and will be a timely opportunity for the AMA to highlight how the health system can provide GPs with the support they need to continue to deliver high-quality care to patients.

Watch out for daily press releases from the AMA on general practice issues.  Other events during Family Doctor Week include the AMA President’s National Press Club address and a special edition of the Medical Journal of Australia highlighting general practice.

Rural health grants

The Rural Health Continuing Education (RHCE) program supports qualified health professionals living and working in rural and remote Australia to undertake continuing professional development activities.

Applications for grants under RHCE Stream Two are now open. RHCE Stream Two will provide grants for continuing professional development, multi-disciplinary training or inter-professional learning and orientation activities that meet the needs of GPs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, allied health professionals, nurses and midwives living and practising in rural and remote areas of Australia.

The closing date for applications is 20 August 2010.  [Find out more]


To find out more about the AMA’s national campaign to protect and promote the interests of GPs and their patients during the health reform process, go to the Support Family Doctors website.