Federal AMA passes vote of 'no confidence' in Northern Territory Government's ability to run health

An urgency motion was raised by the President of the AMA (NT), Dr Paul Bauert, and Federal Council backed his concerns.

The motion covered the failure of COAG Indigenous health trials in eight remote communities and the refusal of the NT Government to improve working conditions for health professionals across the Territory.

In response, the Council adopted the following resolution:

The AMA has no confidence in the Northern Territory Government's ability to manage the health care system in the Northern Territory.

In particular, the care and needs of Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory are not being adequately addressed as evidenced by the results of the COAG trial and current workforce issues.

The Northern Territory Government must re-evaluate its health strategies to enable it to meet targets for care delivery agreed to by the medical profession and the Government.

The AMA calls upon the Federal President to broker a high level dialogue between the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and the AMA (Northern Territory) on behalf of the health professions in the Northern Territory.

Federal AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said the Territory's doctors and nurses are being treated with disdain and there is a real danger that many will desert the NT health system to work in States that reward their skills and dedication to their patients.

"The Territory's health professionals put Darwin on the international map through their heroic efforts following the Bali bombings and the Asian tsunami and now these same doctors and nurses are being drummed out of the system by an uncaring and irresponsible Government."

Dr Haikerwal said the NT Government has failed dismally in its delivery of health and social services to its large Indigenous population.

"The COAG whole-of-government approach to service delivery in Indigenous communities was meant to be a showpiece and a role model for the rest of Australia, but it has become an embarrassment for the NT Government that has left people's health poorer than before the trials.

"The Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, agrees, saying that 'some of the eight Indigenous communities hosting the COAG trials are worse off than before the system was implemented'.

"The NT Government has sent its health system into a rapid downward spiral and has seriously neglected the health of its Indigenous population, many of whom have the poorest health in Australia."

Dr Haikerwal will contact NT Chief Minister, Clare Martin, to seek a meeting involving Dr Bauert to discuss the concerns of the Territory's health professionals and put in place immediate solutions to the Top End's escalating health crisis.