media releases

“It was great to hear the Prime Minister announce today that compulsory bulk billed telemedicine will be available to all Australians and will be extended to providers other than doctors”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “But we need to extend this to asylum seekers who don’t have either Medicare or money, and to people caught here on tourist and working visas who may get no cover from their private health insurance if they have it.”

“We need to look after these people for their sake but also for the sake of our own community,” said Dr Woodruff. “We don’t want these people to have COVID 19 in the community, not being treated until they are very sick, possibly putting at risk the whole community. They are not to blame for their situation. They too need our help. We need their co-operation.”