A strong voice

AMA and medical colleges call for immediate action to clear surgery backlog

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has joined with medical colleges to call for immediate action over lengthening surgery waiting lists that are leaving thousands of Australians in fear and prolonged pain.

The AMA, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) have written to federal Health Minister Mark Butler, calling for action in public hospitals.

The group points out that while the National Hospital Funding Agreement (NHRA) needs reform, a new agreement won’t be introduced until 2025. New funding must be dedicated to clearing the surgery backlog, they say, with an estimated $4.4 billion — shared between state, territory and Commonwealth governments — needed over two years.

The AMA and the medical colleges are pushing for 50–50 funding in the new NHRA and the removal of the 6.5 per cent cap on funding growth, together with the reintroduction of performance funding.

The group says immediate action is required to help public hospitals expand capacity, as it is estimated the elective surgery backlog is likely to be more than 500,000 patients and growing, while the ‘hidden waiting list’ for initial public outpatient appointments could exceed 400,000, the group says.

The letter says new funding must be dedicated to clearing the surgery backlog, with an estimated $4.4 billion — shared between state, territory and Commonwealth governments — needed over two years.

Current wait times for publicly funded cataract surgery and elective surgeries for women are particularly distressing.

The group notes the need for efficiencies within the public health infrastructure by establishing facilities with dedicated surgical beds reserved for planned elective surgery patients to ensure emergency admissions do not occupy theatre and bed resourcing.

Private health insurance has been on ‘set and forget’ for too long

The AMA is calling for significant reform to private health insurance to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures on customers and the health system.

With reports revealing some providers are increasing Gold health premiums by up to 8 per cent, the AMA warns that many Australians are effectively being priced out of private health insurance policy products that meet their needs.

Professor Robson said the AMA submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care renewed calls for a Private Health System Authority to drive reform. Private Health Insurance continues to be an important incentive to encourage those who can have planned surgery in the private system and reduce pressure on public hospitals, he said.

‘Because of a lack of indexation things have drifted along and it really seems to be negatively impacting on people on lower incomes,’ Professor Robson said. ‘We need to make sure that anybody who wishes to take out private health insurance has a fair and equitable chance of doing that.

‘We think it’s actually time for an independent umpire — a private health system authority — to take the heat out of a lot of these things, take the politics out, and make sure that all Australians get a fair deal and the government gets value.’

The AMA is advocating for private health to adapt to more innovative and efficient models of care, such as home-based and community-based care, but do so in a way that ensures patient choice remains the hallmark of the system.

‘The system has to be sustainable, and it has to be all about patients and making sure they can access the care that they need in an affordable way, and they don’t have to seek care in the overloaded public system if it’s possible to avoid it,’ Professor Robson said.

The AMA’s submission argues for annual indexation of the Medicare Levy Surcharge after years of zero or inadequate indexation, which has led to unfair settings that negatively impact people on lower incomes.

It also recommends more frequent reviewing of private health policy settings which has been a key call from the AMA since the launch of the AMA prescription for private health in 2020

AMA and ADA join forces to call for a tax on sugary drinks

Australia must implement a tax on sugary drinks to help curb the country’s obesity crisis and slow down the rate of tooth decay and chronic disease, say the AMA and the Australian Dental Association (ADA).

Despite proven links to poor health outcomes, research shows Australians drink at least 2.4 billion litres of sugary drinks every year — enough to fill 960 Olympic-sized swimming pools. AMA research shows a tax on selected sugary drinks would reduce sugar consumption from soft drinks by between 12 and 18%, which would lead to far better health outcomes for Australians.

‘The AMA’s own research shows that adding just 16 cents to the price of a can of soft drink results in thousands of fewer cases of diabetes (-16,000), heart disease (-4,400) and stroke (-1,100) over 25 years but we now additionally know 500,000 dental cavities and their costs could be avoided over a decade with cost-savings of $63.5 million,’ he says.

AMA analysis shows the tax would raise $749 to $814 million in revenue each year, which could be invested into preventative health initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians.

This is supported by a Monash University-led research collaboration with Deakin University and the University of Melbourne which has found a sugar tax could prevent more than 500,000 cavities in the next 10 years.

Studies also reveal links between oral health and numerous chronic diseases throughout the body including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Robson said a broad range of measures would also be required to address social and cultural inequities that prevent many Australians from receiving regular dental care.

Read the new Australian study

Read the AMA’ research on a sugar tax

Read more about the AMA’s #Sickly-Sweet campaign

AMA welcomes successful 60-day dispensing vote

Millions of Australian patients will be able to access half-price medicines after the Senate passed the federal government’s 60-day dispensing policy after years in the pipeline.

Professor Robson thanked the Senate for ensuring that from 1 September, patients could access cheaper medicines while making fewer trips to the pharmacy to refill scripts.

‘This is an important day for Australian patients, who have been desperately waiting for much-needed financial relief amid this cost-of-living crisis,’ he said.

Professor Robson said the final Senate vote followed years of advocacy by the AMA and other health and consumer groups.

‘The AMA reignited the call for this policy in February this year and we have advocated for it every day since.’

Professor Robson thanked the many doctor, health and consumer groups that helped get 60-day dispensing over the line — including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Consumers Health Forum, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Asthma Australia, Breast Cancer Network Australia and many more.

AI can improve healthcare for Australians, but with robust rules in place

The AMA has delivered its first Position Statement on the use of AI in healthcare to provide a framework based on safety and equity to enable the careful application of AI technologies in healthcare.

The position statement covers the development and implementation of AI in healthcare and supports regulation which protects patients, consumers, healthcare professionals and their data.

Professor Robson told the media that with appropriate policies and protocols in place, AI can assist in the delivery of improved healthcare, advancing our healthcare system, and the health of all Australians.

‘The AMA sees great potential for AI to assist in diagnosis, for example, or recommending treatments and at transitions of care, but a medical practitioner must always be ultimately responsible for decisions and communication with their patients.

‘We’d like to see a national governance structure established to advise on policy development around AI in healthcare.

‘Such a structure must include all health-sector stakeholders like medical practitioners, patients, AI developers, health informaticians, healthcare administrators and medical defence organisations, Professor Robson said.

The AMA says policy makers must get ahead of any unforeseen consequences for patient safety, quality of care and privacy across the profession. This will require future changes to how we teach, train, supervise, research and managing the workforce.

‘One of the key concerns for any healthcare organisation using AI must be the privacy of patients and practitioners and their data. The AMA’s position is very clear about protecting the privacy and confidentiality of patient health information.

‘This is where regulation and oversight are really important; the healthcare sector must establish robust and effective frameworks to manage risks, ensure patient safety and guarantee the privacy of all involved.’