"The announcement by CoHealth that it will close its doors to thousands of patients in the inner northern Melbourne suburbs is an appalling sign of a lack of concern by both State and Federal Governments about the health of some of the most disadvantaged Australians", said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society.
"Community Health Centres were set up by Gough Whitlam in 1974 and only Victoria has maintained and expanded them since that time. They fill the enormous gap that exists in our very archaic health system which fails the most disadvantaged in our society," said Dr Woodruff. "Despite limited resources, they attempt to provide access to comprehensive care for patients who simply can't afford to seek that care in the general medical community."
"Now the usual game will be played by the State and Federal Governments. Ít is not our fault' each will say. This is a pathetic response to a potential life- threatening crisis in access to care. The respective health ministers need to be locked in a room and kept there until they come up with a solution."
"Sadly, nothing remotely like that will happen. Patients will die or suffer," said Dr Woodruff. "Governments will pretend they did what they could."
Dr Tim Woodruff
