Australian Medical Association

Medical practitioners (doctors involved in patient care) can make a significant contribution to the effective and efficient management of public and private hospitals. Doctors can contribute to better management of health costs while ensuring quality patient care and outcomes by being involved in decisions about resource allocation and the purchasing of services for the provision of patient care.

The management of hospitals works best when doctors are engaged in clinical and corporate governance.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, today said it was vital that Australia had strong, highly performing, public and private hospital systems, after the Productivity Commission released a draft discussion document comparing the two systems.

Dr Pesce said the Commission had highlighted the immense difficulty and statistical challenges of comparing the performance and costs of public and private hospitals.   

“Hospital systems are complex but we need both public and private hospitals working well to support our Australian health system,” Dr Pesce said.

“Unfortunately the AMA Public Hospital Report Card 2009, which was released yesterday, shows that public hospitals are under-funded and failing to meet key performance targets, and growing demand for their services.

AMA Submission to the Maternity Services Review - 2008

The attached submission has been prepared by the AMA Council of Doctors in Training (AMACDT)

AMA Position Statement Employment of Medical Students in Hospitals - 2006

AMA Position Statement: Workplace Facilities and Accommodation for Hospital Doctors - 2006

AMA Position Statement: Hospital Medical Officers' Hours of Work and Workloads: A Strategic Approach to Occupational Health and Safety - 1996