Page 941 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 30 March 1993
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Mr Cornwell: "Disingenuous", I would suggest, Mrs Carnell.
MRS CARNELL: Absolutely, Mr Cornwell. Mr Berry regularly suggests in this place, with his ongoing comments, statements and taunts, that I supposedly do not support the public health system. Madam Speaker, if Mr Berry were to put his brain into gear for just one minute he would realise that, as a community pharmacist, I have made my living for all of my working life out of the most successful and equitable public health program in this country, the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. This program, which is well targeted, is cost-effective and is accessible to everyone. Australia's pharmaceutical benefits scheme is regarded worldwide as probably the best and most equitable system of pharmaceutical distribution in any country in the world.
The PBS has not been subjected to the massive cost blow-outs that have beset Medicare. Madam Speaker, you could well ask why this is so. Certainly, the cost of pharmaceuticals has increased dramatically, the cost of labour has increased, and the advent of high-tech drugs has had a large impact. The major reason that a cost blow-out has been averted is that a Federal Labor government made the very sensible decision to target the scheme - that is, those who are more well off pay more. This has meant that there has been no need to reduce the number of drugs available or to change the accessibility of those drugs.
It is a great pity that the successes influencing the PBS have not been translated into Medicare. The very real need to encourage those who can afford it to take out private health insurance cannot be ignored. The current Medicare system is not targeted at all, so those like the Prime Minister, earning well in excess of $100,000 a year - - -
Mr Cornwell: How much?
MRS CARNELL: Well in excess of that; probably double that. Those people, who are not bothering to take out private health insurance, are competing for the same hospital bed as our age pensioners.
Mr Cornwell: Shame! Is that Mr Keating?
MRS CARNELL: That is Mr Keating. That would not be a problem if the States had sufficient funds to operate enough hospital beds and other services to provide for everybody without having to resort to waiting lists. The very fact that there are 100,000 people on waiting lists around Australia, including over 2,000 people in the ACT, shows that this is simply not possible. Obviously, more money is required to overcome the very real problems in our health system. I think this problem has been acknowledged by both sides of politics.
Mr Berry: What are these very real problems?
MRS CARNELL: There are 100,000 people on waiting lists, including 2,045 in the ACT. It seems like a very real problem.
Mr Berry: How did you count them?
MRS CARNELL: Off your activity sheet, 2,045. Madam Speaker, we now get to the fundamental difference between Mr Berry and me. I firmly believe that only those who can afford to pay more for health should do so. I stress that I believe that only those who can afford to pay more for health should do so; but Mr Berry believes that everybody should pay more via an increased Medicare levy.
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