All savings generated from the Federal Budget cuts to general practice must be reinvested back into general practice research, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The Federal Government indicated any savings achieved through cuts to the health portfolio will be reinvested back into the health sector through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
RACGP President, Dr Liz Marles said the Government must commit to reinvesting any savings generated from cuts to the primary healthcare sector into a component of the MRFF dedicated to supporting general practice research.
“General practice research is indispensable to improving the quality of care for Australian patients and ensuring a clinically and cost effective service.
“Traditionally, medical research has largely been hospital centred, despite the vast majority of illnesses being managed in primary health care settings.
“We know that a strong primary healthcare sector results in positive health outcomes for patients at a lower economic cost and research into this vital pillar of the healthcare system has been neglected for too long,” said Dr Marles
Between 2000–2008, only 1.9%1 of National Health and Medical Research Council grants awarded were for primary healthcare research.
Majority of the savings will be generated by the proposed $7 co-payment which will see Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) rebates reduced by $5 and result in poorer health outcomes for patients already facing barriers to accessing health. The RACGP has been vocally opposed to the introduction of such a model.
“The introduction of the $7 co-payment alone will generate savings of over $3.5 billion across 5 years; money that if removed from primary healthcare must be reinvested straight back.
“It is absolutely critical if the $7 co-payment model and other proposed cuts to the general practice sector are implemented, that all savings generated be reinvested directly into a dedicated primary healthcare research fund or more broadly, the development of the general practice profession,” said Dr Marles.
The RACGP calls on the Government to establish a robust general practice based research network such as that which was commissioned to the Australian Associated for Academic Primary Care (AAAPC) in early 2013. This model is widely accepted internationally as a highly valued primary healthcare research model and Australia is being left behind.
Primary healthcare research focuses on the prevention and early detection of disease, undifferentiated clinical presentations, chronic conditions, and multi-system co-morbidities which are less frequently encountered and managed in acute healthcare settings. It also centres on the way primary healthcare services are organised and delivered to ensure they are both clinically sound and cost-effective and meet individual community needs.
The RACGP firmly believes in the value general practice research contributes to Australian GPs being able to deliver the highest level of quality healthcare. The RACGP Foundation was established to support GPs, general practice registrar and students undertaking research in general practice with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
The RACGP is committed to achieving the best possible health outcomes for all Australians and urges the Government to properly consult the general practice profession before implementing any policy measures that could seriously compromise the quality of healthcare for all Australians.
1 McIntyre E, Mazza D, Harris N. NHMRC funding for primary health care research, 2000–2008. Medical Journal of Australia. 2011;195(4):230.