Australian Medical Association

The AMA this week called on the major parties to commit to proper indexation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) should they be elected on 21 August.

We also sought a promise that there would be no further cuts to specific MBS items, as happened last year with cataract surgery, joint injections, cardiac angiography, pathology, and IVF procedures.

The health policy bidding war is finally underway in this election campaign.

The Coalition yesterday released its health platform for the election and it is clear that they have heard and responded to the AMA’s advice on decisions that will deliver real results at the coalface of health.

Here we are in week three of a five-week election campaign and still no sign of the major comprehensive health platforms from the major parties.  Yesterday we had the Greens National Health Plan, but that was understandably and predictably aimed at prevention, with no big picture policies for hospitals or primary care.

The AMA has this week been pushing general practice issues at every opportunity, with GP Super Clinics a major focus of the media.  Our view is that we support GP Super Clinics where they do not compete with existing general practices and where they meet a real community need for primary care services.  We insist that local GPs in the area are consulted prior to any decisions about locations for the Clinics.  Our preference is for more funding to go to existing general practices to help them expand their services before any consideration is given to establishing a GP Super Clinic.

Our health system needs fixing and this Federal election is the perfect time for doctors and patients to tell the major parties how to fix it. The AMA has produced a range of materials to assist people to have their say about health policy.

The Leaders’ Debate did nothing to reassure the Australian people that the major parties intend to have a serious conversation about fixing the health system that is currently failing Australian families. I firmly believe that voters are more concerned about being able to see a doctor, being able to have life-saving or life-enhancing surgery in a timely way, and not having to sit with sick children for hours in emergency departments than border security and stopping desperate people seeking a new life from the comfort of a leaky boat.

Today, I addressed the National Press Club to promote this week’s AMA Family Doctor Week, and to launch our Key Health Issues for the 2010 Federal Election – the AMA’s health policy wish list.

The 2010 Federal Election campaign is off and running and your AMA will be working hard to keep health policy a priority for all parties.