ALP Medicare ads 'shoot the messenger'
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the ALP's Medicare TV advertisements are a gross exaggeration and an outrageous slur on doctors.
Dr Glasson said higher Medicare co-payments by patients are a result of policy laziness and inaction from both sides of politics for the last 20 years, not the fault of doctors.
"The ALP is shooting the messenger with these ads," Dr Glasson said.
"Australia's GPs are under enormous pressure and Australia is facing an unprecedented GP workforce shortage that will see whole communities without a doctor.
"The Medicare debate is all about access and affordability.
"Bulk billing concerns have been overtaken by whether people can get to see a doctor at all - when and where they need them," Dr Glasson said.
Dr Glasson said the only positive about the ads is that the ALP is paying for them themselves and no taxpayer funds were wasted.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761