published letters

Published in SMH on Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Means testing access to services can be a very useful way to fund services. It can also be very mean. The reforms to Aged Care aim to increase the availability of services but at a price, easily afforded by the rich. On an income of $30,000, few Australians would regard themselves as rich. But those on such an income will pay an extra $3,000 to get help to stay at home rather than go to a nursing home. Such people frequently have medical problems in addition to difficulties looking after themselves. Federal Government has ignored the data which indicates that 32% of sick Australians don’t see their doctor when sick or don’t fill out all their prescriptions because it costs too much. Many of these people will be trying to find the extra $3,000 per year. Could the Federal Government really want such people to have even more difficulty accessing medical services? Users pay or they don’t get the services and die. Why are we rich Australians so mean?

Tim Woodruff
Vice President
Doctors Reform Society

31 Davison St
Richmond
3121

PH 0401042619