President's email update - Tuesday 27 July

Our health system needs fixing and this Federal election is the perfect time for doctors and patients to tell the major political parties how to fix it.  The AMA has produced various materials to assist people to have their say about health policy.

Key Health Issues

We recently released Key Health Issues for the 2010 Federal Election – the AMA’s recommendations to the major parties in key health policy areas. Click here if you would like to comment and read a breakdown of the AMA’s policy platform, or alternatively, you can access the full pdf of this document here.

Support Family Doctors campaign

The AMA is also running a campaign in support of family doctors.  We are running a patient petition urging the major parties to produce policies that preserve and promote general practice as the quality frontline in primary care.

We would like medical practices around the country to display our Support Family Doctors poster, distribute our Support Family Doctors brochure, and encourage your patients to sign our Support Family Doctors petition.  The signed petitions will be sent to Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott prior to Election Day on 21 August.

For your convenience, the petitions can be printed on a standard black and white printer.

You may choose to print the Support Family Doctors poster and brochures in colour in your practice or you can order copies by emailing memberservices@ama.com.au with your name and address.  A set of materials will be sent as soon as possible.

Links to the Support Family Doctors campaign materials are below.

• 'Family medicine is running out of time!' - Poster
• 'Family medicine is running out of time!'  - Pamphlet
• 'Support family doctors: the heart of health' - Petition

Your views and the views of your patients are important and they can make a difference to health policy and our health system.  The major parties must recognise and support family doctors and general practice.

The AMA will give voice to your opinions and your ideas to make our health system better for doctors, patients and the community.

You can get more information from http://www.ama.com.au and http://supportfamilydoctors.com.au/

You can also join in the discussion and let us know your views here on the President's Blog.

Let’s all get active!!

Yours sincerely

Dr Andrew Pesce
President