"No higher priority than rebuilding general practice"
Some good news for general practice signalled by the federal government this week, but the devil will be in the details of next week’s budget.
The AMA welcomed the announcement from the federal government following last Friday’s meeting of National Cabinet of significant steps towards reforming primary care, with funding to be announced in the May budget. These initiatives respond to the work of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, with measures including My Medicare, tailored funding packages for patients in addition to existing Medicare arrangements and the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP).
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler spoke at the National Press Club this week to further expand on primary care reform telling the audience he has “no higher priority than rebuilding general practice”.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said the real test would however be the May budget. He said while last Friday’s announcement and “discussions at National Cabinet reflect a growing understanding of the importance of general practice and primary care in our health system — the May budget will be a real test for the Commonwealth”.
“It not only needs to deliver funding to support long term reform of general practice, it must also deliver an immediate injection of funding into general practice to ensure it remains viable and GP services are accessible and affordable.”
