Key health issues require long-term strategies

Transcript: AMA Queensland President, Dr Nick Yim, ABC Radio Gold Coast, Drive with Bern Young, Monday 4 November 2024

Subjects: Pill testing, workforce, payroll tax

BERN YOUNG: Schoolies week is less than a fortnight away, and in that time, the state's peak medical body is hoping they can convince the new state government to allow pill testing. The AMA's Queensland branch has asked the Premier and the new Health Minister Tim Nicholls for a meeting. I caught up with the AMA Queensland President, Dr Nick Yim, to ask what contact he's had with the state government.

DR NICK YIM: Thank you for having me. As we know, Schoolies is just around the corner. And there have been concerns from AMA Queensland during that campaign period about cancellation of pill testing. We know that during Schoolies, they are having their well-deserved break. But at the same time, this is a stage of their life when they potentially may be introduced to drugs or unknown substances, which is a reason why we are requesting the government to ensure pill testing does occur at this years’ Schoolies.

BERN YOUNG: What evidence will you take to this meeting, assuming that the Premier and the Health Minister meet with you? What evidence will you take to them to say – ‘here are the benefits, here's why we're backing this?’

DR NICK YIM: The evidence behind us, we previously consulted the previous government, and the previous government consulted doctors, police force and also legal experts as well. It's one of those situations where pill testing itself is another strategy to educate our community on the harms of drugs. We know from studies that people who do get their drugs tested, 16 per cent actually dispose of those drugs on site.

BERN YOUNG: Dispose of them on site. So 16 per cent?

DR NICK YIM: So, they choose actually not to take them when they find out what's actually in those drugs.

BERN YOUNG: And is that 16 per cent would otherwise, you think, take those drugs unknowingly?

DR NICK YIM: I think we all know that unfortunately given our current climate, there is increased use of drug use potentially. And at the same time, the drugs, the pills, are actually becoming more sophisticated. There are also synthetic drugs. We have seen from interstate hospitalisations and transfers to emergencies when there have been unintended overdoses. And it's something that if we can prevent those situations from occurring, that would be a good strategy.

BERN YOUNG: Nick Yim is the President of AMA Queensland. Nick, were you heartened by the fact that the new Premier David Crisafulli, said – ‘I'm not going to make a knee jerk decision. I will take advice.’ And do you think within that advice, he could seek out evidence that suggests this isn't a good idea?

DR NICK YIM: I think that's a key thing, we've always engaged with the government of the day and it's really heartening to hear David Crisafulli mention that last week. So AMA Queensland, we congratulate the new government who has come into power, and we have requested a meeting with the new Premier and Health Minister to discuss this issue on pill testing and also other health issues moving forward for Queenslanders.

BERN YOUNG: Well, can we just turn to some of those other health issues? Because, of course, Tim Nicholls has been appointed as the Health Minister. A lot of people, and I'm assuming you included, would have expected it to be Ros Bates. She's been the spokesperson for health for the LNP leading up to the election for a number of years. What did you think of Tim Nicholls being appointed over Ros Bates?

DR NICK YIM: I think the government will have their own strategies, but at the same time we always work very well with the government of the day. We do want to engage with Tim Nicholls to discuss strategies and to continue the work that the previous government has started off with. Obviously addressing issues such as ambulance ramping, workforce and the surgical wait list. So those are some big key issues that we are hearing across the state.

BERN YOUNG: And what do you think can be done? I mean, the government's talking a lot about the first 100 days and what they hope to achieve in that 100 days. What do you think would be tackled first or should be tackled first? And how?

DR NICK YIM: One of the big issues is definitely data. David Crisafulli has mentioned during his campaign period that the first 100 days is for identifying the issues. So what is actually happening, what is the wait list, how many people are waiting for surgeries? At the same time, what are the resources needed? AMA Queensland has been calling for a workforce plan across the state. So, how many doctors are needed, how many nurses are needed, how many allied health are needed across the state, both in the public and private sectors? And we will work with David Crisafulli and his team along with Tim Nicholls to implement some of those actions and look at long term strategies as well, because it's not going to be a quick fix. It is a plan moving forward over the next couple of years.

BERN YOUNG: And would that be priority number one, do you think, the surgical wait list?

DR NICK YIM: That is one of the big priorities. And obviously what comes with that priority is also workforce. We are hearing across the regions and rural areas that workforce is a big strain. For operations and surgeries to occur, it's not just about the surgeon. We also need anaesthetists, nurses, to support that surgery.

BERN YOUNG: Can I ask you a question around the payroll tax, which in some regards sounds a bit dry, but you feel that it is an issue that would help free up access to GPs for Queenslanders. Usually general practice is an issue that comes under more federal issues and the Medicare system. What do you want to see the LNP do regarding this payroll tax?

DR NICK YIM: We definitely commend the LNP for first introducing that exemption during their campaign. The next phase is having that discussion with the Treasurer and the Queensland Revenue Office to actually action this, to ensure that we can use those funds from the payroll tax to employ our nurses, administration staff, to ensure that general practice continues to run effectively.

You're absolutely right, general practice has been chronically underfunded for many decades, and historically it is a federal issue, but it's really promising to see state government investing into this area. And we have seen from the previous government, investments in incentives for junior doctors to train in general practice So we'd love to see that continue.

BERN YOUNG: Are you expecting the LNP to honour that promise of exempting all private medical practices from payroll tax?

DR NICK YIM: We will definitely hold the LNP on that account and we are expecting that they will come towards the party with that exemption.

BERN YOUNG: Immediately or over time?

DR NICK YIM: We expect that to come in immediately.

BERN YOUNG: Yet one other thing you'll be talking about should you get this meeting with the new Health Minister Tim Nicholls, and also requesting a meeting with the Premier David Crisafulli. On that agenda, also this issue around whether pill testing will go ahead at Schoolies week. It's not even two weeks away, it starts at the end of next week. The 16th I believe is the first day of Schoolies, it's right around the corner. Good to talk to you. Dr Nick Yim is the President of AMA Queensland. Thank you.

DR NICK YIM: Thank you.

Contact: AMA Queensland Media:                +61 419 735 641                    media@amaq.com.au