GPs get the big thumbs up from patients
Australians trust their doctors, particularly GPs. The AMA has welcomed a first-of-its-kind report that shows Australian patients are highly satisfied with the care they receive from their GP.
The research paper in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia found that nearly 70 per cent of the 7,130 patients surveyed were happy with their access to a general practice and 84 per cent were satisfied with the communication between themselves and their GP.
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the research demonstrated the commitment from GPs to their patients’ care and GPs’ resolve to provide best practice medicine.
The research confirmed that 80 per cent of Australians visit their GPs at least once a year and Australians are fortunate enough that they are able to spend more time with their GPs than people in comparable countries. Dr Capolingua said supporting GPs is a priority for the AMA as they are central to patient care.
Find out more here.
AMA Federal Council backs GPs’ concerns on funding for general practice programs
At its recent meeting in Canberra, the AMA Federal Council passed a motion that in response to the 2008-09 Federal Budget, it will campaign for improved funding to support access to general practice services for residents of aged care facilities and for the full restoration of funding for:
· the Prevocational GP Placements Program (PGPPP).
· immunisation support.
· training for rural and remote procedural GPs.
· the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives.
AMA puts its case on primary health care reform to the 2008 Australian Health Congress
Dr Rod Pearce, Chair of the AMA’s Council of General Practice, gave a keynote address to the Australian Health Congress in Sydney on 21 August 2008. Dr Pearce spoke on the reforms that GPs are promoting to ensure a sustainable GP workforce and to ensure all Australians have access to quality medical care when and where they need it. These include strengthening the GP-led multi-disciplinary team approach to primary health care, training more GPs, expanding the use of practice nurses and reforming the GP items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Dr Pearce said that any proposed changes to the health system must benefit the patient and be cost-effective.
Click here for the full text of Dr Pearce’s speech.
Safety review of medicinal products that contain rosiglitazone
GlaxoSmithKline has announced changes to the product information and consumer medicine information for medicinal products that contain rosiglitazone (Avandia and Avandamet). The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has advised there is an ongoing safety review of rosiglitazone and that these changes are warranted. It is the TGA's view that patients should see their treating doctor but not urgently – rosiglitazone should not be stopped abruptly.