Government must keep its health promises to Australians

The AMA has insisted the Federal Government honour its promises on Medicare safety net and the private health insurance rebate.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the Rudd government had committed to maintaining the Medicare safety net in recognition that families relied on it.

“Australian working families rely on Medicare safety net more than ever. More than a million Australians receive some relief in health costs through the Medicare safety net each year.  When times are tough, and you are sick, you need the government to back you up so that you or your family can see the doctor when you need to. With the economic crisis Australians will need the back up security of the Medicare safety net even more than before.

“For the sake of Australians’ health care we need renewed commitment from Mr Rudd and Ms Roxon that this net is not about to be cut away.

“Families facing financial hardship need Government reassurance that they will not be abandoned when times get tough.

“Cutting the net away could see cancer patients no longer able to afford treatment, or couples forced to abandon dreams of starting a family under IVF.

“A government that can afford to spend $60 billion in a stimulus package, with not a cent going to health, can afford to keep its promises on safety net,” Dr Capolingua said.

Following increasing media speculation about budget pressures and health, the AMA is also seeking confirmation that the Rudd government will honour its promises on private health insurance rebates.

“Before the election Ms Roxon said she’d made it ‘crystal clear’ that the Rudd government was committed to maintaining the rebates,” Dr Capolingua said.

“Our public hospitals are already under great stress and facing even greater demand. Forcing people out of private health by breaking the promise on rebates would put even more pressure on the public system.

“Health has already been excluded from stimulus spending. The bare minimum we should now demand of government is that they keep their promises on what is left.”