Doctors push AMA to intensify reform attack

AMA members have urged their organisation to step up its attack on the Rudd Government’s health system reforms, calling for the launch of a public campaign condemning the plans.
 
Delegates at last week’s AMA National Conference  voted through two urgent motions criticising the moves towards fund-holding, voluntary patient enrolment and pay-for-performance measures – all of which are key elements of the Government’s new diabetes plan.

Addressing delegates, Queens-land GP Dr Shaun Rudd said it was time the AMA took a hard line on these issues.

“The [previous] motion that had been approved by federal council [on patient enrolment] was a bit wishy-washy... there is a time when you have to say ‘sorry this is not acceptable’,” Dr Rudd said.

Victorian GP Dr Tony Bartone requested the AMA review its efforts to address the threats posed by the reforms. Given the impending federal election, a public campaign was needed.

“A lot of my colleagues... are not happy about where [these reforms] are all going. We want the AMA to try to get a message to the wider community about how disappointed and how frustrated we are about these initiatives,” he said.

AMA vice-president Dr Steve Hambleton supported the sentiment of the motions.

“Everybody is just so frustrated... I think the conference is just reminding everybody that we need to look at this [diabetes model] and get more aggressive on it,” Dr Hambleton said.

AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce abstained from voting on the two urgency motions. They will now be considered at the August federal council meeting.

To see the wording of the two urgency motions visit medobs.com.au/news/ama-motions