Doctor shortages - a looming major social problem for Australia - AMA submission to the Senate Select Committee on Medicare
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the AMA's Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Medicare warns of doctor shortages becoming a major social problem in Australia if the Government does not act quickly and comprehensively to repair Medicare.
Dr Glasson said the GP workforce shortage is now the most serious obstacle to equity of access to and affordability of quality medical services in Australia.
"The Government and the Opposition have both missed an opportunity with their Medicare policies," Dr Glasson said.
"There are good and bad elements in both, but they have an eye on the next election and not the long-term sustainable future of Medicare and the Australian health system.
"What they don't understand is that you cannot train and create a medical workforce overnight. With 10 or more years of training required, it will take a generation to get the medical workforce back to proper levels.
"By allowing Medicare to fall into decay and letting the Medicare patient rebate fall so far behind the cost of providing quality medical services, successive Governments have contributed to what is fast becoming a major social problem for this country.
"Country towns and urban communities are losing their doctors at an alarming rate and there is nobody there to replace them.
"General practice - once the Holy Grail of medicine - has become an unattractive career option for our brightest and best students. As older GPs are retiring early and student places are not being filled, the burden is falling on the remaining GP workforce, many of whom are choosing to work part time.
"A drop in average GP patient time of just two hours per week is equivalent to the loss of about 1000 GPs in patient time. Patients are finding it increasingly harder to get to see a GP when they need one. When they do, they are paying more out-of-pocket because of Government neglect of the Medicare patient rebate.
"The AMA wishes the Senate Inquiry every success in improving the Government's Medicare policies. Otherwise, the Australian community will suffer well into the future," Dr Glasson said.
The Submission is available on the AMA website at /node/3803.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761