AMA Welcomes Anderson's Support For Country Doctors
The AMA welcomes reports in today's Australian Financial Review that Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the National Party, Mr John Anderson, has taken up the cause of country doctors against the disruptive application of competition policy on rural medicine.
The AMA and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) recently called for an independent inquiry into the impact of the Trade Practices Act (1974) (TPA) on the current and potential recruitment and retention of rural doctors.
President of the AMA, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that Mr Anderson's support - particularly his reported representations to the Prime Minister - would add substantial weight to the campaign against the inflexible use of the Trade Practices Act against doctors.
"Red tape and bureaucratic interference are already major deterrents for rural doctors," Dr Phelps said.
"The threat of legal action from the ACCC if independent doctors cooperate on any business will make practices non-viable and doctors will be forced to leave country areas.
"Agreement on work rosters, work sharing, negotiations with local hospitals, for example, could be subject to ACCC action.
"Good quality, round-the-clock health care depends on doctors cooperating and working together, particularly in country areas. The blanket application of the TPA would put an end to this cooperation.
"It is heartening that Mr Anderson and the National Party have recognised that Governments must make health care in rural areas easier to deliver to patients rather than tougher on doctors already working under a great deal of pressure.
"It is now up to the Prime Minister to heed Mr Anderson's advice and appoint an independent umpire to conduct a detailed inquiry," Dr Phelps said.
The AMA dedicates considerable resources to TPA compliance by teaching doctors what they can and cannot do under the Act. An independent inquiry will enable doctors to know quite unambiguously what is acceptable conduct under the TPA, and recommend appropriate changes to the TPA in the public interest.