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Health is the biggest concern for Australian voters - Newspoll

AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, today welcomed the findings of the latest Newspoll on key electoral issues, which rates health as the number one priority for Australian voters.

The poll, published in The Australian, shows that a record 85 per cent of Australians rank health as the issue most important to them.

Education (82 per cent), Environment (64), Family Issues (62) and Welfare and Social Issues (62) rounded out the top five.

Dr Glasson said the poll throws up a big challenge to the Government and the Opposition to get their health policies right for the next election.

"Voters will be watching health policy very closely," Dr Glasson said.

"The electorate is more knowledgeable than ever before about the health system and how it affects them and their families.

"People are paying more for their health care and they want to know why.

"Towns and suburbs are losing their doctors at an alarming rate and people want to know what is forcing them to leave town or leave medicine.

"The medical indemnity crisis has made health topical and the media coverage has given people a clearer understanding of how the system works.

"The enthusiasm and commitment of new Health Minister, Tony Abbott, as chair of the medical indemnity committee, gives the AMA confidence that medical indemnity may not be an election issue after December.

"But the focus will remain on Medicare policy and funding for public hospitals, public health programs, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), indigenous health, and the health of young Australians, particularly in regard to obesity.

"Underpinning all these issues, however, is the disappearing medical workforce.

"The AMA will be reminding all the major parties that their Medicare and other health policies will not be effective if there are not enough doctors, nurses and other health professionals to deliver them.

"Access and affordability will be the benchmarks against which the health policies for the next election will be judged," Dr Glasson said.

CONTACT:         John Flannery            (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

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