Labor's medical indemnity reforms supported
The AMA welcomes the reforms announced by the Australian Labor Party today in their Medical Indemnity Reform Package.
AMA Chairman of Council, Dr Michael Sedgley, said today the reforms follow a long and concerted campaign by the AMA to protect the interests of doctors and their patients.
Dr Sedgley supported the ALP's measures addressing the escalating pressure of medical insurance premiums affecting, in particular, obstetricians and rural doctors.
"Unless medical indemnity premiums are contained, the public's choice of medical services could be lost. In particular, the most threatened services are obstetrics, neurosurgery, and rural general practice," Dr Sedgley said.
The AMA supports measures highlighted in the ALP's package, including:
- promotion of structured settlements by changing tax treatment
- establishment of a national database on health care litigation to target problem areas
- implementation of nationally coordinated tort law reform covering court procedures and regulation of medical indemnity organisations, and
- tightening of prudential regulation of medical indemnity insurance to ensure the transparency of accounts.
Dr Sedgley supported the setting of national benchmarks and guidelines to help doctors decide on the best treatment, but said it must be controlled by the medical profession.
The AMA acknowledges the ALP's undertaking to establish a Medical Indemnity Implementation Working Group which will negotiate agreement to national legislation to implement the package.
CONTACT: Michael Sedgley (0428) 178 849
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076