GPs Need To Be Engaged in Health Reforms: Expert
The government must engage GPs in developing its health reforms to ensure they are integrated, wide enough in scope, and aimed at the areas of greatest need, Professor Michael Kidd said in the latest issue of The Medical Journal of Australia.
Prof Kidd, Head of General Practice at The University of Sydney and immediate past President of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, assessed the Rudd Government's performance so far on its pre-election health promises.
"General practice is at the core of many of the health initiatives … and GPs need to be engaged in these developments," said Prof Kidd.
It was a shame that the National Primary Health Care Strategy is being developed after several of the initiatives that should be its core components have already been announced, he said.
"General practice is accustomed to having to respond to piecemeal strategies from government, but it would be better if these programs were integrated in a way that supports the whole system in the delivery of high-quality primary care," Prof Kidd said.
"Perhaps this is the intent of the new government, but it is too early to determine the likely long-term impact of these programs on the health care delivered to the people of Australia through general practice."
The National Primary Health Care Strategy needs a much wider scope than what was promised in the lead up to last year's election, he said.
"There is an urgent need to reduce the pressures on the nation's general practice workforce and increase the number of GP registrars in training, while at the same time increasing the capacity of Australian general practice to train an increasing number of medical students, registrars and practice nurses," Prof Kidd said.
Meanwhile, he called for an independent evaluation of the planned GP Super Clinics, to determine whether they would be located in the areas of greatest primary care need, and to ensure that they have the support of the local community and there would be no unnecessary duplication of existing services.
"Every primary care clinic in Australia needs the capacity to work within a framework that is relevant, timely and sustainable," Prof Kidd said.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
* The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.
CONTACT: Professor Michael Kidd 0414 573 065