Member Services
- Text Decrease
- Text Increase
- Print Page
Government doesn’t get it: No fix for Indemnity Crisis
AMA Victoria President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, lamented today the inaction and apparent indifference of the Premier and his Ministers in dealing with the medical indemnity crisis.
"We've been calling for action from the Bracks Government in meetings with Ministers since June, 2000. All we've got so far, with the exception of a change in the discount rate, is window dressing," Dr Haikerwal said.
"This is a crisis . Patients know it’s a crisis. Doctors know it’s a crisis. The Government just doesn’t get it, or just doesn't care," Dr Haikerwal said.
Meaningful reforms are needed now otherwise senior doctors will be the first to leave practice from 1 July, 2003. This will impact on public hospitals as well as the private system.
First the public system will not be able to cope with the extra patient load, which will lead to even longer waits for elective surgery, emergency care and outpatient appointments. The insurance risk will transfer and be borne by the State.
Second, at risk is also several hundred million dollars of fees and charges raised by public hospitals in treating private and compensable patients. This revenue will have to be replaced by the taxpayer.
Dr Haikerwal said, “It might have been easy in the past for the Government to free-load off doctors’ indemnity premiums, but if they do not do something now, they and our public hospitals will bear a much bigger burden in the future.”
Third, loss of senior doctors from the system will seriously jeopardise the training of the next generation of doctors. It will leave the frailer and more critical patients exposed as the most senior and experienced clinicians decide that insurance, not the medicine, is too hard.
"It’s bitterly disappointing that the Bracks Government appears more attentive to sectional interests and not to merits of the logical and clearly argued position that the AMA has given. The Premier must take charge, stop the squabbling and lead the State through this vital reform agenda," Dr Haikerwal said.
“The Government knows what needs to be done. This must be done now,” Dr Haikerwal said.
Victorian Medical Directory
Quick Reference Links
Networks
Preferred Providers
Next
Prev