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Government Action Required to Ensure Victorians have Access to Essential Medical Services
AMA Victoria President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today called on the Victorian Government to show its commitment to ensuring continuing availability of medical services for Victorians by implementing a comprehensive tort law reform package.
Releasing the results of an extensive survey of the response of Victorian doctors to the medical indemnity crisis, Dr Haikerwal said, “This crisis is just as much an issue for Victorians as it is for the people of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. We are concerned that the Victorian government is reluctant to commit to those substantive reforms which will support the ongoing viability of medical practice”
“1855 Victorian doctors responded to our survey, with about 40% saying that from 2003 they would effectively withdraw from undertaking higher risk practice and procedures and 10% saying they would stop working altogether.” Refer attached.
“90% of doctors also said they would try to recover all or some of the increased insurance premiums from their patients.”
Of particular concern was that 1 in 8 rural obstetricians and 1 in 6 rural surgeons advised that they were thinking of quitting altogether in 2003. Rural services are already on a knife’s edge.
These figures starkly illustrate what will happen to access to medical services if the Victorian government fails to act.
“It is pleasing to see the positive recommendations of the first report of the Federal Government’s Review into the Law of Negligence. The recommendations on the need for change to the law of medical negligence and shortening of the time limits within which action can be commenced are just two of the issues which this Victorian government must legislate for to relieve the uncertainty and escalation in medical indemnity premiums. The reforms announced by the Premier to be introduced in Parliament in the spring session must address substantive issues such as these.”
The Premier must act now if he wants a vital and viable healthcare system in Victoria.
Dr Haikerwal said that AMA Victoria has called for an urgent meeting with the Victorian Premier, Mr Bracks to discuss the issue.
“The currently proposed Victorian reforms are totally inadequate. A more substantial package of tort law reform is absolutely imperative to guarantee the long term viability and quality of medical services for all Victorians.”
“We now have the evidence to support our concerns regarding the impact of the crisis on the future availability of medical services. This Government must act responsibly to ensure that Victorians are not deprived of essential medical services.”
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