Media Conference - Medical indemnity - Medical Indemnity Crisis Goes National - Tasmanian Doctors Affected
AMA Federal President, Dr Bill Glasson, and AMA Tasmania President, Dr Tony Lawler, will tomorrow, Wednesday 8 October, host a media conference to explain how the medical indemnity crisis is a national problem that is affecting all doctors in Australia and their patients.
Dr Glasson said today the crisis can only be resolved by fixing the entire medical indemnity system, which has seen insurance premiums for some specialists reach as much as $120,000 a year.
"The furore over the medical indemnity IBNR tax, which is hitting doctors in NSW and Queensland primarily, is only the tip of the iceberg," Dr Glasson said.
"The medical indemnity system in Australia is broken. If it is not reformed as a matter of urgency, more and more doctors will leave medical practice and patients will pay more for their health care."
Dr Lawler said changes to prudential regulations governing medical defence organisations (MDOs) mean that all Tasmanian doctors will now have to pay much higher insurance premiums.
"The changes have hit the Tasmanian MDO and the insurance premiums will inevitably rise further," Dr Lawler said.
"If nothing is done to significantly cut the cost of medical insurance, Tasmanian towns, suburbs and communities will lose their access to doctors," Dr Lawler said.
"Tasmanian patients will find it harder to get to see a doctor and, when they do, they will have to pay more. The medical indemnity crisis must be resolved."
Media Conference - Dr Glasson and Dr Lawler:
Time: 12.30pm
Date: Wednesday 8 October 2003
Venue: AMA Tasmania
2 Gore Street
South Hobart
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306