United General Practice Australia (UGPA) calls on the government to implement a formal mechanism to allow the general practice profession, via UGPA, to provide valuable input into policy reform.
The general practice leaders believe this will ensure the promotion of sustainability and quality in general practice remains a priority into the future.
The government is urged to consider the direction of general practice in its entirety with meaningful involvement from the general practice profession being central to any discussions on the funding and sustainability of quality general practice.
At a meeting held in Canberra today, UGPA supported a future model of quality general practice where general practices provide ongoing, comprehensive, accessible and affordable whole person medical care.
UGPA supports a model where patients and their families enjoy a continuing relationship with a regular GP, with support from a GP-led practice team and other clinical services in the medical neighbourhood.
This model would support care coordination, the value of quality general practice, and general practice teaching and training, in diverse settings.
UGPA believes these principles should underpin the development of further policy in general practice.
UGPA comprises the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN), General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).