AMA welcomes medical indemnity summit
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that the medical indemnity summit announced by the Prime Minister is a welcome and timely signal that the Federal Government will seek a national solution to a crisis threatening treatment for public hospital patients across Australia.
Dr Phelps said the Prime Minister's decision would help provide some certainty for doctors faced with crippling insurance premiums and security for millions of Australians as they prepare for the holiday season.
"The AMA has been calling for action on medical indemnity for years," Dr Phelps said.
"While there has been action by some governments at the State level, the summit is the first sign that the Federal Government is prepared to seriously confront this problem head-on.
"We can now look at the bits and pieces of solutions - tort law reform in NSW and structured settlements at the federal level - becoming part of a uniform national system that will hopefully emerge from the summit.
"The AMA will be urging governments to assist doctors maintain services in the months before the summit and we are hopeful of quick responses from at least some State governments to cover the financial burden of those doctors hardest hit by recent premium increases - in some cases more than $100,000 a year for certain specialists.
"People will feel more comfortable over Christmas and New Year in the knowledge that vital health services will not be threatened over the holiday period.
"I congratulate the Prime Minister for taking up the medical indemnity issue at the national level.
"Doctors and patients will be hoping the summit produces a comprehensive long term solution to a problem that is creating unnecessary uncertainty around the provision of important health services in the community," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076