published letters

Published in the age on Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Amanda Vanstone claims the Health Minister understands efficiency  (Comment, 25/4). However, Sussan Ley’s view of efficiency is selective. Documented savings of $1 billion per year would be made if the government paid world market prices for pharmaceuticals. But it refuses to tackle the issue and continues to receive donations from the pharmaceutical industry. Also, some $8 billion is spent on the inefficient private health insurance rebate.

Furthermore, the minister’s view of efficiency does not include a commitment to equity, to making sure all Australians, particularly those at greatest risk, have timely access to affordable care. As for the “dead and buried” GP co-payment, it is alive and well because the government has frozen the rebate, effectively resulting in a $15,000 cut in income to GPs over four years. They will increase co-payments, which is precisely what the government wants. This is access to health care for the rich but not the poor

Tim Woodruff,
vice-president,
Doctors Reform Society