President and CEO update - July 2023
We are starting to see more details of the state budget measures announced in June, with action on maternity services. We continue to have constructive meetings with the new Health Minister, and hope the government will use the resignation of the Queensland Health Director-General as an opportunity to take the organisation in a new direction.
Maternity services
Our persistent advocacy has secured five new Queensland government initiatives to support maternity services in rural and remote communities.
These and the Ministerial Maternity Roundtable are the direct outcome of our advocacy over the past year to ensure families in these communities have access to fundamental healthcare services and the health workforce is best supported to deliver those services.
The government has delivered on our state budget submission for an immediate $800,000 to support at least 20 GPs to undertake RANZCOG’s Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Obstetrics for General Practitioners. GPs play an integral role in delivering obstetric and anaesthetic services in rural communities. This initiative will support a pipeline of GP obstetricians to continue that vital role for rural families. It will also support GPs who want to pursue training in this area.
Meanwhile, the digital passports AMA Queensland advocated for will give our existing medical workforce the flexibility to fill staffing shortages in other regions and keep maternity and other health services operating.
AMA Queensland advocacy prompts maternity services initiatives
Transcript - Changes to maternity services
Women’s health
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has decided to remove restrictions that limit which doctors can prescribe the abortion pill and which pharmacists can dispense it.
This is a welcome move for Queensland women, particularly those in regional areas where access to medical termination can be limited. However, Queensland Health must ensure there are adequate referral mechanisms in place should women require it.
While doctors and pharmacists will no longer be required to undertake additional training to prescribe and dispense this medication, we are encouraging the federal government to continue to make the training freely available.
Medical termination of pregnancy is not a simple pill. It is challenging for both the patient and the practitioner. Our Vice President Dr Nick Yim explained the issues on ABC Sunshine Coast.
Transcript - Abortion pill access
Payroll tax
We are continuing to advocate for an exemption for GPs from the new interpretation of payroll tax liability. Queensland was the first jurisdiction to take action on this new patient tax, winning an amnesty.
South Australia has since announced a similar amnesty and the Western Australian government this week said it had no plans to impose the new tax on tenant GPs. We congratulate our interstate colleagues for their work.
The WA situation is slightly different as that state doesn’t harmonise its tax arrangements with the eastern states. However, the decision shows state governments do not have to impose payroll tax on GPs.
The Queensland Revenue Office has advised that its updated Public Ruling will not be available before the Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline of 29 September 2023. This means practices wishing to qualify for the amnesty must submit an EOI by 29 September without waiting for guidance from an updated ruling.
Queensland Health and Resident Hospital Health Check
The departure of the Queensland Health Director-General leaves a critical role that requires exceptional leadership skills and a people-first focus.
Queensland Health workforce issues underpin all the enormous challenges faced daily in our health system. It is time to refresh the department and embrace change.
We have been vocal in calling for transparency and an end to the negative culture that is highlighted every year in our Resident Hospital Health Check survey of junior doctors. We are launching the 2023 RHHC campaign with a webinar Thursday evening, 27 July, in collaboration with ASMOFQ. It's the most important survey a junior doctor can take because their voice is heard by the profession, politicians and public servants. The launch webinar includes a briefing on key MOCA 6 changes and what that means for doctors in training.
Register - Resident Hospital Health Check online launch
Time for new direction at Queensland Health
Whistleblower proposals bad for health
Free flu vaccines
We have joined with the Queensland government to call on the federal government to make the flu vaccination free for all Australians under the National Immunisation Program.
Queensland has made the vaccination free this year for the second year in a row, but it’s time to bring some predictability and planning to the vaccine rollout.
While this year’s announcement came with a timetable and instructions on how GPs and pharmacies would be reimbursed for the free vaccine, we are midway through the flu season and have not yet seen a peak in Influenza B cases.
There is a danger that people will put off getting the vaccine early in the season if they think the government will make it free a couple of months later.
We have lost too many Queensland lives this year and our hospitals are under strain. Dr Boulton told Sunrise why we back making the flu jab free for everyone.
We're collating program information for GPs and practices on a single members-only webpage (requires website login). Please check back regularly, as we're adding resources and updates as we receive them from Queensland Health. In our latest update, members can now access a suite of communication materials for promotional purposes.
Stay updated - program information for providers
Transcript - Make flu jabs free for all
Measles
Reports that a man infected with measles visited several locations across Brisbane before being diagnosed is a timely reminder to everyone to get vaccinated, Dr Boulton told the Today Show.
The vaccine has been around for a long time and is our best tool to prevent it.
Transcript - Measles case in Brisbane
AMA Queensland scorecard
Our Q2 scorecard shows we had 1,581 member engagements and reached an accumulated media audience of more than 21.5 million in the delivery of complex policy advocacy to achieve positive change.
We are proud to leading Queensland doctors and creating better health outcomes for our community.
Senior Doctors Conference
The program has been released for our Senior Doctor Conference on 19 August. We have worked with the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association (ASADA) and the planning committee to create a program covering topics including healthy ageing, encore careers, and senior doctors and the health system.
