Report Highlights Importance of GPs

A new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare/University of Sydney report on General Practice highlights the critical role GPs play in keeping the Australian community healthy.

A new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare/University of Sydney report on General Practice highlights the critical role GPs play in keeping the Australian community healthy, AMA Federal President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today.

The AIHW and University of Sydney today released General practice in Australia, health priorities and policies 1998 to 2008, which isbased on data from the BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health) program.

AMA Calls on Government to Implement GP MRI Policy
The AMA has written to Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, urging her to implement the previous Government’s policy to allow GPs to order Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans for their patients.

Dr Pesce said the report showed that GPs were spending an increasing proportion of their time with older patients and managing chronic medical conditions.

“GPs are spending more time checking for - and managing - diabetes, blood pressure, high-cholesterol and depression. They are also taking a lead role in tackling type 2 diabetes, cancer and other serious medical conditions,” Dr Pesce said.

“Governments must ensure GPs have the support and resources they need to care for an ageing population with increasing rates of chronic disease.

AMA Urges Government to Develop Health Policy for Men
Australian Medical Association President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, today called on the Government to honour its promise to develop a national men’s health policy.

“We need more GP training places, extra support for practice nurses who work in GP-led teams and investment in medical equipment and information technology for medical practices.”

The report showed an increasing number of patients were overweight or obese and more people were requesting check-ups.

Advertisements

Keep Australia's GP Workforce Numbers Healthy, AMA Urges
Meeting with Health Minister Tony Abbott in his electorate of Warringah this morning, AMA President, warned that an alarming proportion of Australia's already shrinking GP workforce…

“GPs already undertake a lot of preventative activity despite a lack of support for this in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The Government needs to recognise this work and provide more support for longer patient consultations,” Dr Pesce said.

The report was released as the AMA was gearing up to mark GP Week from 19 - 25 July.