Primary care, of which General Practice is an essential component, has been described in the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Communique as being in a parlous state. A General Practitioner is often a person’s first point of contact in the healthcare system and, as with the broader system, these healthcare providers are under pressure.
The cumulative effects of COVID-19, bushfires and floods, as well as underfunding, are taking its toll on General Practice, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Health of the Nation 2022 Report.
Whilst the 2022-2023 Federal Budget provides investment for targeted government initiatives such as vaccination programmes, primary mental health care and respiratory clinics in General Practice, there needs to be increased investment to address General Practitioner shortages as BDO is starting to witness the system failing at the edges.
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler has recognised the impending crisis, stating primary care “is in worse shape than it has been in the entire Medicare era” and has made it his top health priority.
BDO welcomes measures in the second Federal Budget for 2022-23 to invest more wisely in primary health and take a step in the right direction to ensure the financial sustainability and viability of our critical General Practice workforce.
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