Media Alert - AMA Family Doctor Week - 19-25 July 2010

Next week – 19-25 July 2010 – is AMA Family Doctor Week, an important part of the AMA’s Support Family Doctors campaign, which was launched in April this year.

Each year, the AMA uses Family Doctor Week to remind the community of the vital role played by local family doctors in keeping Australians healthy.

Recent AMA research found that 88 per cent of people have a usual family doctor and that 83 per cent of people are very satisfied or satisfied with the medical care they receive from their family doctor.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that it is clear that Australians rate their family doctor as the most important part of the health system.

“The family doctor is the first point of contact in the health system for most Australian families,” Dr Pesce said.

“When people get sick or injured or want advice about their health, they want to see a doctor. 

“The family doctor must remain the foundation of the health system,” Dr Pesce said.

Dr Pesce said that family doctors are under enormous pressure and that each day next week the AMA will highlight ways to provide greater support for family doctors to allow them to continue serving local communities.

Dr Pesce will be addressing the National Press Club in Canberra next Wednesday, 21 July, to outline the AMA’s views on health policy ahead of the Federal Election.