media releases

“The predicted budget increase in Medicare funded dental services will do almost nothing to improve the care of the hundreds of thousands in the community who face years long waiting lists to access proper dental care,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

“Meanwhile the taxpayer funds full extras cover for those on salaries as high as the Prime Minister can get a 35% rebate on Blue Ribbon private health insurance cover and avoids paying 1% of his 2.5% Medicare levy”.

“Whilst the Federal Government claims that dental care should really be a State responsibility it manages to find over $400 million per year for the dental component of the PHI rebate,” said Dr Woodruff. “But it also forgoes many more millions per year in not collecting the 1% Medicare levy for high income earners who have private health insurance.”

“Private dental care is awash with taxes, but it’s almost all being spent on those rich enough to afford private health insurance extras. The paltry programme of dental care for the desperate funded through Medicare introduced several years ago has not worked and cannot work even if expanded,” said Dr Woodruff. “It is designed to have little impact because this Government does not believe it is responsible for the dental care of the majority of Australians. There are not enough dentists to do the work and the red tape and restrictions to accessing the Medicare payments ensure the programme’s very limited effectiveness.”

“This policy demonstrates the total disregard the Federal Government has for the health of all Australians, and the ideological obsession with promoting access to quality health care only to those who can afford it,” said Dr Woodruff.

This is credit card oral health and the Government should apologise to the 650,000 Australians languishing on public dental waiting lists, preparing their pureed food whilst the rich tuck into their T bone steaks.”

Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society

Dr Con Costa
Vice President
Doctors Reform Society

]]