Page 1846 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 June 2014
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As Mr Rattenbury pointed out, this was not part of the federal election campaign. I have no memory of Mr Abbott, Mr Hockey or Peter Dutton standing at shopping centre stalls and in front of cameras and saying to the folk of Australia, “We will charge you a co-payment for you to see your doctor; we will make your health outcomes worse for the years to come.”
A $7 co-payment for a visit to the doctor, and an increased cost of PBS medicines, pathology tests and diagnostic imaging will undoubtedly affect lower income groups more than any others, thereby potentially resulting in higher mortality, increased morbidity for some, and increasing cost and suffering for others. That is what the Liberal Party are signing up for. They are signing up for higher mortality, increased morbidity, and increasing cost and suffering for others.
The opportunity to live a long and healthy life is already unequally distributed in Australia. The poorest 20 per cent of the population can still expect to die younger, six years on average, compared to the richest 20 per cent. Those who are from a socially disadvantaged group and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have the highest risk of chronic disease, including depression, diabetes, heart disease and cancers.
As I said, this co-payment, as evidence shows, will mean a decline in access to primary health care. So those that are already less well, are unhealthier than others, have poorer access and have a higher level of disadvantage will decline even further into disadvantage.
A family of four would pay the $7 GP fee at least 40 times a year before they would qualify for a 10-visit safety net, because it applies to individuals rather than families, and a pensioner couple would visit a general practitioner 20 times a year before they would both be bulk-billed. That is the health system that Jeremy Hanson wants to see for Canberrans. That is the health system that he is standing here and supporting.
The collection of co-payments in the aged-care sector is also likely to be particularly challenging and may further reduce service delivery in this vulnerable sector. Again, evidence from overseas shows that there will be fewer visits for preventive care such as vaccination, cancer screening, preventing chronic disease and regular care needed for chronic diseases.
The current vaccination schedule requires five separate visits to receive vaccines in the first 18 months of a child’s life. Over 60 per cent of those under seven years of age in the ACT have their vaccinations done in general practice. The introduction of a GP co-payment could serve as a disincentive for people to visit the doctor for vaccinations, particularly the low socio-economic families within Canberra.
Targeting the sick to fund health care is likely to have an impact on the cost-effective approach to health—namely, early intervention. Primary care is where educative and preventive medical care, as well as assessment and treatment, are provided.
Let us briefly look at the impact on general practice care. The GP rebate for most GP items will be decreased by $5. ACT GPs will have to choose between one of the
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