Strong focus on general practice in AMA Federal Budget Submission

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said on Tuesday that the May Federal Budget must provide a significant ‘stimulus package’ for the Australian health system. Releasing the AMA’s Federal Budget submission, Dr Pesce said the health system is in desperate need of strategic investment across the whole range of programs and services – from primary care to hospitals to mental health and Indigenous health.

The AMA has identified key sectors that need immediate attention. These include Indigenous health, mental health, general practice, sub-acute care, long-term care for people with serious disabilities, medical training, rural and remote health, and e-health.

The AMA has called on the Government to strengthen the role of general practice and recommends infrastructure support to allow existing general practices to evolve and develop into GP primary care centres with GPs leading teams of co-located health professionals.

The submission also asks for additional prevocational and vocational GP training places, support for medical students and other health professional training in general practice, and improved funding arrangements to support the delivery of multi-disciplinary care.

The AMA reiterates previous calls to extend support for GP practice nurses – extending practice nurse subsidies under the Practice Incentives Program to all geographic locations and to expand MBS coverage to reflect and support the full range of work undertaken by practice nurses for and on behalf of GPs. Read more

AMA urges greater support for IMGs

The AMA has written to Health Minister Nicola Roxon urging greater support for international medical graduates (IMGs) working in Australia, highlighting the problems they face with getting access to basic community services such as Medicare and public education.

The AMA also wants the Government to abandon the current 10-year moratorium, which effectively forces many IMGs to work exclusively in rural and remote areas for 10 years or more. Dr Pesce said that the Government had recently introduced welcome changes to assist New Zealand IMGs, and the AMA would like to see this as being the first step in dismantling the moratorium.

The AMA is calling on the Government to adopt a more robust package of incentives and support mechanisms to encourage the increasing numbers of locally trained doctors and appropriately skilled IMGs to voluntarily consider a career in rural and remote Australia. Dr Pesce said that by adopting a ‘more carrot, less stick’ approach, the Government will go a long way to restoring country practice as an attractive long-term career choice for all doctors. Read more

Ask piercing questions about body piercing

The AMA has urged Australians considering undergoing body piercing to ensure that they are aware of the health risks associated with the procedure and what they can do to reduce the chances of something going wrong.

AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, this week launched an AMA youth health brochure that provides advice about the risks associated with piercing including the factors and questions people should consider before having a body piercing. Dr Hambleton has encouraged people considering having a piercing to seek advice from their doctor. Read more

ATAGI  flu dosage recommendations for children

The Department of Health and Ageing has developed a summary table of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) dosage recommendations for pandemic H1N1 2009 and seasonal 2010 influenza vaccination for children aged >6 months to <10 years. This document is located on the health emergency website under the guidance and information for health professionals section. Click here for the complete ATAGI advice.