AMA welcomes new Health Minister
AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, today welcomed the appointment of Greg Hunt as Health Minister, saying that Mr Hunt’s experience as a senior Minister in the Environment and Industry portfolios should prepare him for the demands of the Health portfolio.
Dr Gannon said that Mr Hunt, who has been in Federal politics since 2001, and who was named Best Minister in the World at the 2016 World Government Summit, faces many challenges from day one in his new job.
“The AMA would like to see Mr Hunt get off to a flying start by scrapping the Government’s freeze of Medicare patient rebates, which is causing great hardship for patients and doctors,” Dr Gannon said.
“The new Minister must also quickly get across the many reviews instigated by his predecessor, most importantly the review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the review of Private Health Insurance, which are key to the sustainability of our health system.
“The ongoing issue of public hospital funding is another priority, along with Indigenous health, mental health, and prevention.
“The AMA will meet with the Minister at the earliest opportunity to discuss the broad range of health policy issues that need urgent attention, especially in the context of the 2017 Budget in May.”
Dr Gannon also congratulates Ken Wyatt on his promotion to Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health.
18 January 2017
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