Productivity Commission study of GP paperwork
AMA Vice-President, Dr Trevor Mudge, said today that the Productivity Commission's study of the paperwork overload on Australia's GPs is a positive move but the AMA predicts many GPs will leave the profession before the Commission gets a chance to report next year.
Dr Mudge said the combination of medical indemnity, red tape and increasing practice costs is forcing many GPs to consider their career options.
"The bureaucratic burden on GPs is enormous, and we don't need the Productivity Commission to spend seven months to confirm this fact," Dr Mudge said.
"We need immediate action to restore the attractiveness of general practice as a profession.
"Earlier this year, the AMA/Access Economics GP Workforce survey identified paperwork as a major factor in GP shortages in some areas of health need in Australia.
"While the Productivity Commission study will provide valuable evidence to reflect the reality of the pressures on our GPs, we'll need to see some more immediate action to provide comfort to many overworked GPs.
"GPs want to spend more time looking after patients, not the books - and that's what the patients want, too," Dr Mudge said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076