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AMA Victoria tells State Government that now is the time to act on Indemnity Crisis
AMA Victoria has hit out at the State Government over their failure to implement necessary medical indemnity reform, saying that the inaction poses a real threat to the Victorian health system.
Information received by AMA Victoria has indicated the most likely outcome of the current medical indemnity crisis is early retirement by senior specialists, especially in the fields of obstetrics, surgery, psychiatry and general practice.
Many specialists are currently in the process of advising general practitioners that they will no longer be able to see new patients and are also organising other treatment options for current patients with a view to ceasing practice on the 30th June 2003.
AMA President Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said that the majority of doctors were citing “the current indecision and tardiness in sorting out indemnity issues as the primary reason for closing up shop.”
“Doctors have given up wishing and hoping that a satisfactory solution will be found in the next few months. They feel in the best interests of the long-term care of their patients that now is the time to make alternative arrangements for them.”
Dr Haikerwal said the indemnity crisis would also have far reaching implications on the public health system.
“Specialists who choose to remain in practice will need to work more in the private system and less in the public as only in this way will they be able to afford to pay their indemnity costs.”
“There is already a very long wait for outpatient care in public hospitals. In some instances the wait for an outpatient appointment may exceed a year and then there is the prospect of another long wait on the surgical list.”
Another huge concern being expressed by many doctors is how the indemnity crisis may compromise the training of the medical workforce.
“We are in a situation where there is sense of real despair as to who will be available to supervise and guide the next generation of specialists, both doctors and medical students.”
Making this point, Dr Haikerwal stressed that unless the State Government acts quickly and decisively to remedy the indemnity crisis the effects would be felt on the community for decades to come.
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