The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has commended the Government for including a number of new health initiatives in tonight's budget despite an increasingly difficult fiscal environment.
"Over 22 million Australians see a specialist GP every year for their essential healthcare making GPs the most accessed health professional in the country. While we were asking for greater focus on health and keeping our community well, there have been a number of positive initiatives included in tonight's budget," RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said.
"In particular, we welcome the Government's commitment to re-establish three-year-old health checks and an expanded Comprehensive Health Assessment Program as part of its Thriving Kids initiative. This is something the RACGP called for in its budget submission.
"We were also pleased to see the announcement of a digital baby book for all Australians, an extension of funding for quality improvement in general practice through the Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement Incentive, RSV funding for all Australians over 75 and Aboriginal and Strait Islander people over 60 as part of the National Immunisation Program, and $144.1 million over the next two years to meet urgent infrastructure needs of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector to deliver better health services to First Nations people.
"With funding allocated to make Medicare Urgent Care Clinics permanent, the RACGP is committed to working with the Government to ensure a focus on quality, continuity of care and cultural safety, including through the development of profession-led urgent care standards.
"We were also pleased to see another 2000 training places for new GPs through the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program in 2027 which the College will play a key role in delivering.
"The budget also includes some announcements we're less enthusiastic about, like funding for six fully bulk billing general practice clinics in the Central Coast, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter regions. We are concerned about the impacts of this market disruption, particularly for existing general practices in these areas.
"There is also a commitment to Medicare Benefits and Pharmaceutical Benefits integrity, with $146.8 million in funding to enhance compliance and fraud detection within the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Services Australia. The expected savings from a reduction in fraud and non-compliance across the two schemes are expected to be around $670 million over four years. We will proactively engage with Government on this initiative to ensure our membership will guide the implementation of this measure.
"Australia's GPs called for Budget investments that would ensure affordable general practice care for all Australians, build the general practice workforce, improve research-informed preventative health and healthcare, and prevent the health impacts of racism in the healthcare system."
"We will continue to call on the Federal Government to ensure all these crucial areas receive the funding they deserve," he said.
"In particular, we continue to ask the Government to properly fund long consults with a 40% increase to Medicare rebates for Level C and Level D consultations.
"The average GP appointment time is now 20 minutes as the health needs of our communities become more complex, with many people experiencing one or more long-term health conditions.
"Investing in long consultations would allow GPs the time and space for more comprehensive, empathy-driven care and would cut out-of-pocket costs for patients struggling with the cost of living.
"From chronic conditions like endometriosis, heart disease, or diabetes, to mental health issues, to family and domestic violence, when GPs have more time with their patients, health outcomes improve significantly.
The College is also urging the Government act now to prevent the health impacts of racism in the healthcare system.
"Culturally and racially marginalised groups have been suffering the health impacts of racism for too long, impacts which are so profound they cost Australia almost $38 billion a year," Dr Wright said.
"We cannot wait any longer to culturally safe and equitable healthcare for everyone in Australia.
"Health is invaluable and we want to see funding continue to reflect that so every Australian can afford to regularly spend time with a GP who knows them and their history and can tailor care to their individual needs."
"Funding was also announced for six fully bulk billing general practice clinics in the Central Coast, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Hunter regions. We are concerned about the impacts of this market disruption."
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