Deserving Veterans Miss Out on Quality Health Care
Australian war veterans are being denied access to the specialist medical care they need for their complex health conditions, despite the Federal Government's promise to give them the highest quality medical care possible, AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today.
The Government says every veteran who holds a Gold Card under its Repatriation Private Patient Scheme (RPPS) should have the same access to health care as a privately-billed patient.
But an AMA survey of specialist medical practitioners has found many veterans are missing out because the longer, more detailed consultations and procedures they need are not being properly funded.
"Just as the Australian community recognised the contributions to our country of our Vietnam veterans with the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan last week, we must also recognise the complex health needs of all our war veterans," Dr Haikerwal said.
"They put their lives on the line for us. We must now do all we can to improve their quality of life with the best GP and specialist health care we can offer them."
Of nearly 1,800 specialists surveyed, 41 per cent said they could not continue to treat all veteran patients who hold a Gold Card. The number has nearly doubled since 2004, when the AMA found only 23 per cent of specialists were contemplating cutting back on treating veterans.
"The Government is not properly funding this scheme to keep up with the escalating costs of providing the specialist care that veterans need and deserve," Dr Haikerwal said.
"The survey indicates that many more specialists would like to participate in the RPPS, but only if the Government increases funding for the specialist care of veterans, who suffer more complex and chronic conditions than others in the community.
"The RPPS contributes less for specialist services than other comparable schemes, such as Motor Vehicle Accident and WorkCover schemes.
"For example, Comcare pays $128 for an initial specialist consultation, compared with just $85.15 under the RPPS.
"There's something very wrong when you are much better off being injured in a car accident than suffering ill health or injury carrying out active service for your country.
"To add insult to injury, the survey reveals that many veterans are being placed on public hospital waiting lists, delaying their treatment."
Veterans have told the AMA that eight totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) ex-servicemen and women are being forced to fly from Darwin to Adelaide for treatment.
Another soldier, who served in Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam, must travel 350km by train to see his psychiatrist - a round trip that frequently takes a full 12-hour day to attend a one-hour appointment.