AMA Welcomes Another Round With Tony Abbott
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, today welcomed news that Tony Abbott would continue as Health Minister in the new Howard Ministry.
Dr Glasson said the AMA had developed a very positive relationship with Mr Abbott since he became Health Minister late last year, and he looks forward to continuing and developing that relationship in the months ahead.
"The AMA would like to see the Government working with the profession to get structural and policy reforms in place as early as possible in the term so we can see if they are working or not before the next election," Dr Glasson said.
"We don't want three years of theory. We want three years of practice.
"Tony Abbott has shown in the last ten months he is a man of action.
"We now look forward to three years of uninterrupted action on health policy," Dr Glasson said.
Dr Glasson said reform must focus on prevention, better systems of transition and interim care and better ways of delivering care and services to older Australians.
Joe Hockey, as Minister for Human Services, will be responsible for the administration of Medicare and other payments. He will answer to Finance Minister, Nick Minchin.
"Bundling the administration of Medicare in with pensions and welfare payments is a worrying signal that the Government sees Medicare as another form of welfare," Dr Glasson said.
"The AMA has always supported a balance between public and private funding and provision of health services in Australia.
"The move to separate the administration of Medicare from the Health Minister's portfolio risks creating an unhealthy gap between health policy and practice.
"We will be looking for more detail on the impact of this division," Dr Glasson said.
22 October 2004
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