Federal Election commitments must bring relief for Australians struggling to afford essential healthcare

In the lead up to the Federal Election, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is urging all political parties to make bold commitments to ensure essential GP care is affordable and accessible for all Australians. 

The RACGP is Australia’s peak body for general practice and GP training with over 50,000 members practising everywhere from big cities to regional, rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

RACGP President Michael Wright said: “The next Federal Election is critical. Accessible and affordable GP care is a priority for voters. 

“The cost-of-living crisis has compounded decades of underfunding of Medicare, including the 10-year freeze on patients’ rebates, so patients are paying more out-of-pocket and it's harder for GPs to bulk bill.  

“Recent investments in Medicare have helped GPs bulk bill more concession card holders. But more needs to be done to ensure specialist GP care is affordable for all Australians.  There’s no substitute for the care you get from a GP who knows you and your history, and every Australian deserves access to high-quality healthcare. 

“The RACGP has a plan to make high-quality general practice care accessible and affordable for all Australians, and we’re releasing three key measures today. 

“First, Medicare needs proper investment, and we're calling on all parties to support a 40% increase in patients’ rebates for longer consultations. This will halve patients’ out-of-pocket fees and fund an extra 4.6 million bulk-billed appointments every year. 

“It will also improve health outcomes for those with chronic and complex conditions and those needing mental health support, and it will relieve the strain on our hospitals and emergency departments.  

“Second, Australia needs to train more specialist GPs. While GP numbers are increasing, they aren’t keeping pace with the need for care. Australia’s population is growing and ageing, and there’s an epidemic of chronic illnesses. And the workforce is ageing, with a third of GPs planning to retire in the next five years.  

“RACGP currently trains 90% of our future GPs and we can train more. We’re calling for an extra 1500 training places over the next five years, so we can get more GPs into communities across the country and grow our workforce for the future.   

“Third, we know Australian women need better access to comprehensive and affordable care for health issues like endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, menopause, and perimenopause.  

“We want every Australian woman to get the comprehensive care they need to manage these conditions by extending eligibility for annual GP health assessments for all women. This will immediately make this essential care more affordable and accessible at a time when women are disproportionately affected by cost-of-living and inequity in health funding.  

“This package of measures will bring immediate cost-of-living relief to Australians doing it tough and provide long term benefits. It will improve the health and wellbeing of patients and communities while also taking pressure of our hospitals and entire health system.”