New reports support AMA calls for greater investment in general practice

“Significant investment in general practice is crucial to equip the health system to cope with the ageing population and more patients with complex and chronic diseases,” A/Prof Owler.

“General practice keeps people healthy and out of hospital. It makes sense for the Government to invest heavily in primary care, and the most cost-effective quality primary care is provided by GPs.

“It is definitely not the time to be introducing disincentives – such as the Government’s proposed model of co-payments for GP, pathology, and radiology services – that would deter sick people from visiting their GP.”

A/Prof Owler said the reports show that if GP services were performed in other areas of the health system, they would cost both the Government and patients considerably more than general practice.

“GP services in the Emergency Department, for example, would cost between $396 and $599 each, compared to the average cost of a GP visit, which is around $50,” A/Prof Owler said.

The BEACH reports highlight that general practice, over the period 2004-05 to 2013-14, has been doing more to keep Australians healthy than ever before, including:

• 68 million extra problems managed (48 per cent increase), of which 24 million were chronic conditions such as diabetes and depression;
• 35 million extra GP-patient encounters (36 per cent increase), 17 million of which were with patients aged 65+ (a 67 per cent increase);
• 10 million extra hours of GP clinical time (43 per cent increase); and
• 10 million extra procedural treatments (a 66 per cent increase).

The BEACH publications are available at General practice activity in Australia 2013–14 and

A decade of general practice activity 2004–05 to 2013–14.

11 November 2014

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                            Odette Visser                      02 6270 5412 / 0407 726 905