Fri 21st Mar 2014
Dutton fails to reject the dismantling of medicare
DUTTON FAILS TO REJECT THE DISMANTLING OF MEDICARE
The Doctors Reform Society is shocked to hear that the Health Minister Mr Dutton sees no problem with the trialling of private health insurance (PHI) covering copayments for GPs, said Dr Con Costa, President, Doctors Reform Society. Copayments will increase, the rich will pay via their insurance, taxpayers will pay more through the PHI rebate, and those 55% of Australians who can’t afford PHI will miss out.
This proposal is about introducing queue jumping into GPs waiting rooms, said Dr Costa. We already have such unfair treatment for hospital care as patients wait years for elective surgery. Now it will be ‘Do you have private insurance so we can see you immediately?’, in GP waiting rooms.
This will two tier our GP services as well as our hospital care, said Dr Tim Woodruff. It is a clear sign that Mr Dutton approves of the destruction of Medicare as a system of universal access to affordable care for all Australians.
It is also clear that controlling health costs is not a concern as this Americanisation of our health system is a sure way to send health costs through the roof whilst providing less health care
Adding private health insurance to GP services is just another nail in the coffin of Medicare
Please explain Mr Dutton
Dr Con Costa Dr Tim Woodruff
President Vice President
Doctors Reform Society Ph 0401042619
Ph 0418400309
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