Health systems and environmental

General practitioners are specialist medical practitioners who play a unique and central role in our health system as clinicians, care coordinators and system stewards

This position statement focuses on racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and members of the primary healthcare workforce.

After-hours primary healthcare is defined as accessible and effective care for people whose health condition is urgent and cannot wait for treatment until regular services are next available

This position statement provides an overview of RACGP commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australia’s first national Principles on the role of general practitioners (GPs) in supporting work participation has been developed following extensive stakeholder consultation with GPs

The current process of prescribing medicinal cannabis products in Australia is highly bureaucratic, time consuming and expensive

RACGP Rural recognises that rural doctors and health teams provide high-quality care in regional, rural and remote Australia and continue to do so in a safe and reliable manner

The RACGP believes that GP-led multidisciplinary teams are well placed to provide whole-patient, comprehensive, coordinated, continuing primary healthcare to individuals, families and communities

The RACGP’s commitment to research as a core aspect of general practice is reflected in the Mission of the College

RACGP believes that the development of prevocational and vocational training opportunities for medical graduates should be a priority, along with efforts to increase the number of doctors working in rural and remote Australia; not the implementation of new health profession roles 

The RACGP recognises the importance of general practice research and is committed to its advancement

The RACGP recognises the value for GPs and their patients to have access to telehealth services

During the 2016 federal election campaign, the Government announced that a Rural Health Commissioner would be appointed in order to lead the development of a National Rural Generalist Pathway, and act as a champion for rural health issues

The RACGP recognises that in many rural and remote communities across Australia, GPs with advanced skill sets provide the only access to ongoing specialist medical services; emergency medicine, mental health, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, palliative care, anaesthesia, surgery and obstetrics

The healthcare of asylum seekers in detention, whether offshore, on-shore or community detention, should be of a standard commensurate with Australian standards of health

The RACGP supports marriage equality and recognises the polarisation of communities and significant distress that a public vote on marriage equality has caused lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer RACGP members and patients

The RACGP considers that any future accreditation model must retain the GP peer surveyor model as this is paramount to fostering genuine collaboration and sharing of experience amongst peers

The RACGP acknowledges the importance of protecting children from sexual exploitation and harm

The RACGP NRF strongly opposes the use of Geographic Provider Numbers as a solution to general practice workforce maldistribution

The RACGP agrees that comprehensive, coordinated and effective surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial use is a national priority and that a unified and strategic approach to addressing the problem is necessary 

Despite strong rural GP participation across all settings, the frequency of service results showed a clear under utilisation of the local GP workforce, with limited patient reach in each setting outside of the practice

RACGP Rural is committed to ensuring GP-led community palliative care is prioritised in policy so that our members are well-placed and supported in meeting patient needs

Online prescription, referral and medical certificate service delivery models put doctors in the difficult position of making clinical decisions without an understanding of the patient’s medical history and social context

All patients should have access to high-quality GP-led primary healthcare services, provided by a multidisciplinary general practice team, including nurse practitioners

GPs should abide by legislative requirements and consider the impact of billing changes on their patients when determining their billing policy or model

Immunisation is a safe and effective way to prevent serious disease, including tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough

The RACGP advocates for a more collaborative Council of Australian Governments (COAG) dialogue which places increased value on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector input

RACGP is concerned that many IMGs see the current 10 Year Moratorium as discriminatory

The RACGP has significant concern with moves to expand the role of community pharmacies beyond their core role

The inclusion of the GPP role in a team-based model offers the opportunity for practices to increases their capacity to offer medication management and education services

The RACGP • supports a collaborative model between patients, their general practitioner (GP) and other healthcare providers

A sustained increase in public funding is required to meet the growing and changing needs of our community and minimise costs to patients