media releases

Out of Pocket Costs for Health Care Not a Fair Go: Copayments Kill

“The report today that Australians pay over $1000 per year in copayments for health care indicates that despite good health statistics compared to most countries, we still have a
long way to go to achieve the ‘fair go’ we often talk about in Australia,” said Dr Tracy Schrader, President, Doctors Reform Society.

“Thirty two percent, or one in every three sick Australians are delaying or not seeing their doctor or not filling their prescriptions because it costs too much, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a  Harvard based health research institute. How can this happen in a country as rich as ours?” , asked Dr Schrader.

“The Federal Government has introduced health reforms that ignore these out of pocket
costs, said Dr Schrader.  It tells us of life saving medicines approved for subsidy, but then charges copayments which stop patients getting such drugs. If copayments stop patients accessing drugs and doctors, it is more than just denying a fair go”, said Dr Schrader. “These copayments kill”

“Why is there total silence from the Federal Government and the Opposition, the alternative Federal Government, on the issue of killer copayments?”, asked Dr Schrader. 

Dr Tracy Schrader    Dr Tim Woodruff  

President  Vice President  

Doctors Reform Society    Ph 0401042619

Ph 0408892610

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