Productivity Commission Report backs Australia’s GPs
Australia’s GPs have been further recognised as providers of excellent cost-effective and efficient healthcare in the Productivity Commission Report on Government Services 2018.
AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, places GPs as among the best in the world, delivering high quality service for their patients.
“The Productivity Commission Report is compelling evidence that the Government must provide greater investment and support for general practice. GPs are providing more services for patients as the population gets older and, despite this pressure, satisfaction with these services remains high,” Dr Gannon said.
The Productivity Commission also found that patients were highly satisfied with their GPs on a number of measures:
- 91.6 per cent said the GP always or often listened carefully to them;
- 94.1 per cent said the GP always or often showed respect; and
- 90.6 per cent said the GP always or often spent enough time with them.
The report also highlights that gettting in to see your GP is not as hard as some would have us believe with around 75 per cent of patients in 2016-17 reported as able to get a GP appointment within 24 hours, which is consistent with previous years.
Dr Gannon stated that the Government needs to deliver real investment in general practice to ensure that GPs’ excellent performance can be maintained.
“A well-resourced general practice sector can help keep patients out of hospital and save the health system money. The next Budget is a genuine opportunity to recognise and reward quality general practice.”
