Transcript: FiveAA Radio – Medicare investment

AMA SA President Dr John Williams has welcomed the Coalition's commitment to match the government's pledge for an additional $8.5 billion in funding for Medicare, but says further reforms are also needed. 

Transcript: AMA SA President Dr John Williams on FiveAA Mornings with Graeme Goodings.

(3 February, 2025) 

Subjects: Medicare, general practice, primary care, election, auspol

GRAEME GOODINGS: One way or another, there's going to be more money for Medicare. How do you see that?

Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Oh, this is fantastic. It's a very smart move by the government to increase spending on health. We know there's a huge concern among the public about healthcare. It's also important to have this as a public discussion because a significant portion of the tax budget goes towards health. So, it's crucial that we spend that money wisely. Investing in general practice is the most effective and efficient part of our healthcare system. We'd like to see some smart decisions about how that money is spent. The AMA has been pushing for a reform of Medicare, with changes to support longer consults, which are essential for mental health, chronic disease, and aged care, the most needy parts of our community.

GRAEME GOODINGS: There's one aspect that's been brought to my attention. While bulk billing is essential for many people, there's no requirement for doctors to bulk bill, is there?

Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: We have yet to see the details. We're in this position because both sides of government defunded general practice in the past. There was a freeze on Medicare for a long time, which had a huge impact on our patients and community. It's crucial for the government to look at how this money is spent and whether it will solve the problems. The AMA has modelled this and advised the government on clear ways forward to deliver cost-effective and efficient healthcare. It's up to the government to get us out of this hole. We don't want to see doctors or anyone else blamed for this problem, which was created by defunding general practice. It needs to be refunded.

GRAEME GOODINGS: Do you think this will take pressure off our emergency departments and hospitals?

Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Prevention is better than cure. Investing in general practice is investing in prevention. It might seem like a lot of money, but for every dollar spent in general practice, it saves the system $13. This is a no-brainer. We need to invest in general practice to save the health system as a whole.

GRAEME GOODINGS: So, it's a win-win. You can't see any potential downside to it? It's going to benefit everyone?

Dr JOHN WILLIAMS: Yeah, I guess the devil's in the detail. We're watching this closely. We want to see investment in longer consults. There's been no mention of that yet. We also want to see significant investment in GP training. This is fantastic as well.