President’s Update: A new vision

A new vision 

It’s an honour and a privilege to take up the role of AMA SA President. I was appointed to the position at our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 22 May along with new Vice President Dr Louis Papilion. 

I begin my term with optimism and a sense of urgency. The next 12 months are as critical as any time in the cycle of the AMA - not just because of the upcoming state Budget and state election - but because the long-term sustainability of our health system depends on making the right decisions today.

One of my key priorities as your president is supporting systems and policies that promote workforce resilience. This is an area Louis and I commit to working on. 

Creating a resilient workforce includes:

• Investing in workforce growth that is aligned with need – additional doctors in the right areas to support our colleagues under pressure

• Creating a pipeline of future doctors – working with our colleagues in the specialist colleges and with our universities to train and mentor our future medical workforce 

• Supporting our public and our private healthcare systems – both important elements to serve our community’s health needs

• Ensuring that South Australia has a competitive environment to work in as a doctor - to attract and retain talent

Building hospitals and beds is important. But additional infrastructure won’t be effective without the right people to staff it. Our health decision-makers must ensure we are building a health medical workforce to meet the evolving needs of South Australia’s ageing and growing population, now and in the future. 

As your President, I am deeply conscious of the need for all of us to work together to address the challenges. Unity will not always mean consensus - in a profession as diverse as ours, we won’t always agree. But we must navigate those differences with respect and resolve to deliver a strong, united AMA.

I look forward to working with your Vice President Louis Papilion, our CEO Nicole Sykes, our Council and committee members, and all AMA SA members to develop and invigorate a system that supports all doctors – our specialist GPs and our specialist colleagues working in both the private and public sectors. 

Backing doctors is backing safe care for patients.

Healthscope’s future 

The AMA is closely monitoring developments relating to the future of Healthscope following this week’s announcement that its parent entities have entered receivership. 

Healthscope is the second largest operator of private hospitals in Australia and has confirmed that all its facilities will remain open and fully operational. 

In South Australia, Healthscope has ties to Ashford, Flinders Private, the Memorial, and Griffith Rehabilitation hospitals. The first three are operated by Healthscope as an agent for the Adelaide Community Healthcare Alliance (ACHA), which retains responsibility for strategic direction and governance. 

I’ve communicated with senior ACHA management and have been assured there will be no disruption for patients, including those receiving treatment and those booked for surgeries in these hospitals. The dedicated staff and doctors will continue their work without interruption, and the AMA acknowledges their professionalism and focus at this time.

Healthscope’s financial challenges are a cause of deep concern to the AMA. This isn’t just about a single private hospital operator. We need a long-term plan to ensure the viability and sustainability of the entire private healthcare system. We need the health fund rebates to match the real costs of care, including for our South Australian private hospitals.

The AMA continues to call on the Federal Government to establish an independent Private Health System Authority – a national body to oversee, support and regulate the private health sector to ensure the system is meeting community needs and expectations.

Legacy of leadership

One final word - I wish to acknowledge my predecessor Dr John Williams for his steadfast leadership of AMA SA over the past two years. 

John brought a thoughtful and respectful focus to our advocacy and ensured that members' voices were heard in the debates that matter. As a GP and AMA SA’s first regional president, he strengthened the rural and regional workforce, spoke out against payroll tax, and took a zero-tolerance stance against the bullying of junior doctors in our public hospitals. 

On behalf of the Board, Council, AMA SA members and the broader medical community in South Australia, thank you John for your service.