Australian Medical Association

AMA Federal Budget Submission 2012-13 - The AMA is calling on the Federal Government to use the May Budget to strengthen the ‘pillars’ of the Australian health system at a time when the world is entering a phase of economic uncertainty.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that in hard times it is important for governments to strengthen those parts of the health system that will provide the greatest benefit to patients and the community.

“There is every indication that this will be a frugal Budget across the board, but health funding must not go backwards,” Dr Hambleton said.

“The ‘pillars’ of the health system – the parts that work well and which patients and communities rely on – must be recognised and funded accordingly in the Budget,” Dr Hambleton said.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the Government risks losing all health reform credibility if it pursues speculated Budget savings by cutting essential patient services while at the same time pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into unproven projects such as Medicare Locals and GP Super Clinics.

Dr Pesce said that cutting funding for services that are known to help patients is not health reform.

“Health reform should be about making the system better, not cutting services that work or making services more expensive for people,” Dr Pesce said.

The AMA tonight welcomed the Federal Budget investment of more than $7 billion to bolster the health system and provide Australians with better access to quality health services.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said the AMA has been calling for major Government investment in health and tonight’s Budget has delivered substantial new funding and reforms within a tight fiscal environment.

“In good economic times and bad, governments must invest in the health of the population – and this Budget delivers strongly for health,” Dr Pesce said.

“The Budget confirms the promised funding for the COAG health agreement and spells out new spending in key areas of the Government’s health reform agenda, including primary care and e-Health.

“This investment package will require careful implementation, particularly in the areas of diabetes care and chronic disease management, so that what currently works well is not weakened in an attempt to shift resources for patients away from medical practices and their family doctor.

The AMA welcomed a proposed increase in tobacco tax. The AMA has always supported increased tax and price signals on products that are bad for your health in order to reduce consumption. This is an opportunity to make health gains for individuals, and the revenue could support essential health care for the increasing unemployed.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said doctors were deeply concerned for the one million Australians expected to lose their jobs over the next few years as a result of the recession.

The AMA says the most alarming element of last night’s budget is the total absence of health support measures for the unemployed.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the budget predicted one million Australians would be out of work, but made no provision for caring for their health needs.

“These people are vulnerable. Unemployment has a huge impact on health. Stress levels rise dramatically, people cut corners on healthy living and it all takes a physical toll. The emotional impact can be even greater, often leading to debilitating mental health issues, including depression.

“Without proper care these health issues can destroy individuals and families.

“These people are in real and immediate need of medical care. However, the Government has made no provision for extra public hospital services or support for GPs in this budget.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, provides the AMA's immediate response to Budget 2009 at a news conference in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

The audio of AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua's, response can be found via the link below:

• ABC News - Money stripped from health: AMA - audio

The AMA says tonight’s budget does nothing to provide Australians with confidence that their health needs will be met in the face of the recession. There is nothing to cushion Australians from the ravages of the recession.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the budget will mean many Australians will pay more for health adding to their anxiety when they are already stressed about job security and the future.

“More detailed analysis is needed, but one thing is clear: the government’s broken promises and lack of understanding will mean sick Australians will wait longer or pay more for health.

“Estimates are that we will have one million people unemployed and we fear the ravages of this will hit the health system harder than the government realises.  Many of these Australians will be forced to rely on our crumbling public health system. They will need help with a broad range of health issues including stress related illness and mental health.”

Leaked budget measures reported in the media today will hit families hard.

“It seems the nightmare is coming true. The government is attempting to claw back its debt by savaging Australians support for health,” AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said.

“The measures will dramatically increase the cost of private health insurance for Australian families.

“And those families that do not keep their private health insurance will pay more to join the queue in the public system.

The AMA has urged government to ensure the importance Australians place on health is reflected in the budget process.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said Australians consistently rank health as an issue that is of paramount concern.

“But we’ve seen little recent evidence that government understands this,” Dr Capolingua said.

“First health was inexplicably excluded from the stimulus packages, ignoring the fact that there is no better national infrastructure or productivity investment than health.

AMA Federal Budget Submission 2009-10

The AMA's 2009-10 Federal Budget Submission claims there is no better investment for nation building than in health.