The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling on all political parties in New South Wales to commit to tackle growing out-of-pocket healthcare costs in the next parliament.
The largest representative body for GPs, the RACGP is urging politicians to put healthcare first in the state election and improve access to care by committing to:
- save bulk billing and support national reforms to strengthen Medicare by stopping the ‘Sick Tax’ on general practice care
- make medicines cheaper and easier to access by reforming anti-competitive pharmacy laws
- boost the GP workforce by funding state grants and programs for GPs to relocate to areas of need and supporting national reforms to make it easier and more attractive for international medical graduates to work in Australia.
RACGP NSW Chair Professor Charlotte Hespe warned of increasing inequality in New South Wales if politicians don’t address growing out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
“The health system in New South Wales is in crisis and it cannot be ignored,” said Professor Charlotte.
“Without action, we will see a bigger gap between the haves and the have nots, and much higher healthcare costs overall. Because when people can’t afford the care they need, more people end up in hospital beds, which is much more expensive. A standard GP consult costs $39.75, whereas a hospital visit costs $600 and over $1000 if you’re admitted.
“The next state government can make a difference to address rising out of pocket costs and they must.
“Firstly, they must stop the Sick Tax – this is a new tax obligation on practice owners via the extension of payroll tax to tenant GPs. Practice owners already pay payroll tax for their employees, such as receptionists. But most GPs operate as tenant doctors and not employees, they rent rooms from a practice owner and don’t get paid a wage.
“Many practices in NSW are operating on very thin margins thanks to decades of underfunding of general practice care at the national level, including the Medicare freeze. If practices are slugged with another tax obligation, we’ll be forced to pass on the costs – it will mean higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, and the end of bulk billing.
“Another easy way to help people struggling with out-of-pocket costs is to overhaul Australia’s anti-competitive pharmacy ownership and location laws – the current rules make it harder for people to access cheaper medicines, reduce choice and inflate costs for patients.
“Making medicines cheaper and easier to access will help those who need it most, including those who are older and those with chronic illness and multiple conditions. We are calling on the next state government to support reforms at national and state level to make this happen.”
The NSW Chair also called on the next state government to boost the GP workforce across NSW.
“There is a shortage of primary care workers across the board in NSW, including GPs, as well as pharmacists and nurses, particularly in rural and remote parts of the state,” she said.
“Our government needs to understand that there is no substitute for GP care.
“The NSW trial allowing community pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections, which came about after strong lobbying by the Pharmacy Guild, is a concerning example. It goes against all the medical evidence, not to mention the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“GPs train for over 10-years in order to diagnose patients. If prescribing is allowed without a doctor’s oversight it will result in bad health outcomes, and more pressure on our state’s already overstretched hospital system.
“We need to get more GPs working in the communities that need them, and we need genuine solutions not quick fixes.
“To boost the GP workforce across NSW, we are calling on the next state government to fund programs and grants to encourage GPs to train and work in rural and remote areas. Our members tell us the lack of relocation support can be a key barrier for GPs to go rural, and if there was support, such as to find a home, schools and work opportunities for partners, or to develop any new skills they might need, it would make a difference.
“The state could support existing programs including Avenues to Rural and the RACGP’s Practice to Practice program, which are designed to address workforce gaps by better supporting GPs to relocate.
“Another easy way to get more GPs into areas of need in NSW is to make it easier and more attractive for international medical graduates to come here. And our next state leaders can do this by supporting national reforms to cut red tape for overseas doctors and return the subsidy for their training to practice as a specialist GP in Australia, our Fellowship Support Program.
“The health system crisis is complex, and it demands major reforms at the national level. It also requires support from our state government and a commitment to work together with the federal government to deliver long-term reforms to strengthen Medicare and improve access to care for people in NSW and across Australia.”