media releases

“Today’s report that out of pocket health costs Australian people are having to pay have escalated to $1 billion should ring alarm bells for the federal government” said Dr Tracy Schrader, president, Doctors Reform Society. “This report supports a recent Newspoll survey which showed that 1 in every 8 Australians don’t see a doctor or get a prescription filled because of cost. The Australian Bureau of Statistics patient survey from 2009 told us the same.”

 “Out of pocket costs hit the less well-0ff and sick. If patients can’t afford to access standard health care some will suffer unnecessarily, some will become sicker than they need to be and end up in a hospital bed they should never have seen, and some will die.”

 “This federal government has done nothing to address the issue despite its major reform package”, said Dr Schrader.  “Indeed it has even reduced Medicare rebates for some things which will inevitably lead to increased costs for patients.”

 “These cost barriers exist despite a variety of safety nets. Safety nets clearly don’t work. One has safety nets when the basic structure is flawed.”  “The government has a variety of safety nets in place. Clearly they are not working. You only need safety nets when the system is flawed.

 “The Health Minister yesterday flagged changes to Medicare. She knows that the universal coverage which Medicare provides does not mean universal access,” said Dr Schrader. “Let’s hope that what she is talking about finally addresses these rising cost barriers, not (with) more safety nets or targeted programs, but with changes which stop copayments killing people.” 

 Dr Tracy Schrader    Dr Tim Woodruff                             

President   Vice President      

Doctors Reform Society                

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