Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Australian Medical Association has unveiled its federal election wish
list and is calling for action to modernize medicare and
ease pressure on the public health system. It's also seeking
commitments from the major parties to tackle threats facing the
private health sector and a greater focus on preventative health
by implementing a sugar tax. Now joining us on the
(00:22):
line is the AMA's NT Branch president, Doctor Robert Parker.
Good morning, Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Parker, Woman Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Dr Parker, what changes would the AMA like to see
when it comes to medicare?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Well, I think, as I mentioned on your program previously.
Sorry I'm in a public area. Off the background noise,
that's all right. The actual current medical system was designed
on lost cat kitchen table, you know withersdoy in Melbourne
in nineteen sixty seven with Gotwolman, Cass and Scotland deevil
(00:57):
ent attendments and it's totally outdated. The the time based
system that is currently based on is totally out data
and I think you mentioned it to Minister Butler after
my interview and he agreed with me. The problem is
it's not adapted aid of the aging population. We've got
with multiple medical problems, and the know a lot of
(01:20):
issues with chronic illness, particularly diabetes, respiratory in these cardiac
issues and the as I've put suggestions up for a reformation,
I think of medicare too much more to accommodate those
issues within primary care, to make it easier for gps
to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So in terms of the changes that you would sort
of like to see, I know that I know we've
already seen some commitments when it comes to medicare. It
doesn't sound like they go far.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Enough though, No, I think the AMY has put up
gestions that there be a process where complex illnesses can
be I think funded as a process issue rather than
the time based issue with patients and the general practitioner.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Now in terms much and in terms of you know,
what needs to happen to ease you know, or what
needs to happen when you look at this proposed seventier
rebate structure, I think that's been proposed. How would that
sort of benefit patients and what would it mean I
guess to you know, to a regular person like myself
or you know, or my children going into to see
(02:29):
a GP or going into you know, to see someone
when you've got a medical issue.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, I suppose it probably doesn't mean a lot to
you in your current youth and state of health all
the children, but as you get older and you develop
more and more chronic illness, it's probably much more appropriate
that stage.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Now, Dr Parker, I know there needs to be some
work done when it comes to easing pressure on our
public hospitals. What needs to happen in this space from
the AMA's perspective.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well, obviously the public hospital system has been underfunded by
both sides of politics for many years, and unfortunately there's
been a sort of catch up with again the aging
population chronic illness which has put tremendous pressure and again
the lack of age care beds, And certainly the promise
(03:21):
by Prime Minister of Uneasy to develop an age care
facility in the territory is very welcome because again there's
a significant problem with our recurrent code yellows that you
and I have discussed over a number of years has
been the people sitting in the hospital beds will be
much been cared for the age care facilities. Yeah, yes, yeah,
(03:44):
certainly funny would be important.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean you and I have spoken about this
on so many occasions, haven't we, particularly for those age
care patients. We've spoken to Sushira from the Council of
the Aging about these yesterday. She said, Katie, great announcement,
but we probably need, you know, a one hundred and
fifty beads. She reckons that a lot of those beads
that have been promised or that were promised by the
PM on Friday, will be taken up almost immediately once
(04:09):
we've got them. If we end up with them.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, we also need people to care for those people,
we understand, you know, and that will probably involve people
from places such as the Philippines getting visas so they
can come over here and work and be appropriately trained.
And that's an issue with itself. I mean I've been
hearing it. For example, the NT has the most incredibly
obstructive bureaucratic issues for workers and workers that were taking
(04:37):
when we were trying to get dal On this is
it was taking months to actually get the visas approved.
Were as bar and Health managed to get similar visas
done in a couple of weeks, which meant all the
nurses rather than coming to the territory. When to bar
On Health in Julong, so obviously there's significant bureaucratic instructions
within our current health system that save us getting the work.
(04:59):
Is not just the some mortar, it's also the workers
we require to look after people when they're actually in there.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So what do you reckon we could do to try
and make that process a bit easier so we're actually
able to get those workers.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Well, that's obviously discussion needs to happen with the CEO
of the Health Department another similar department respects.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, hey, doctor Parker Anderson. There's also a bit of
a push from the AMA for a sugar tax. How
would that work and what would it sort of look like?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, you're aware, Katie, I mean, he is the most
incredibly difficult epidemic facing Australia currently and it's going to
be getting it it worse, and then more and more
people are going to be suffering from diabetes. Once people
have got it's incredibly you know, it's going to be
(05:47):
a significant number of medical complications, all of which are
very serious and it puts an apart from the stress
for individuals, it also puts a lot of stress on
the health system, you know, requiring macaire of those individuals.
So I suppose a sugar tax is one way of
trying to add a bit of weight into preventedive healthy
(06:09):
people buy rather than buying sugar sugar drinks and other
I think the sugar in them stick to food and
drink that there's less sugar and hopefully prevents your currency
diabetas and do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Then if we had a sugar tax, I mean, what
would some of that revenue raised go towards or you know,
would it be able to go towards you know, maybe
other preventative measures or dealing with some of the issues
that we've got when it comes to health.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
You would hope so. But I'm always very skeptical about
what the government does with whe the funding it gets
and where it puts it. Anywhere, there's just me and my.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Older excuse oh, you and me, both you and me
both doctor Parker. Hey, I want to ask you, sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
You go as an example you could actually develop you know,
I know there's been some very good, very good work
done on healthy food in the our Bridge communities and
the shops and I've been in our few communities recently
and be very impressed looking at the stores. What's the
fresher vegetables and other healthy FOD which is really good.
So that's where the money probably should go if it
is actually properly diverted. Okay, on to the next topic.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Well, I want to ask you about the situation and
what the AMA is wanting to see from the Commonwealth
when it comes to private health. I mean, we know
as territories we've already been impacted by the closure of
maternity services at the Darwin Private Hospital. What is the
AMA pushing for in this space.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Well, I think the OMA is pushing for a private
health authority to actually look at a the you know,
the provision of private health and the certification of it.
I mean we all know that if the private health
doesn't collapses in Australia, that puts immense pressure already on
a very stressed public health system. But then you've got
(07:57):
issues such as importance of it. I mean, we pointed
out that the Foreign Investment Review Board would have not
allowed the MOB that thought Healthscape to buy power stations
and they just said, oh no, problems. Take a take
by the hospital system and which is on the vergis
(08:17):
collapse now, which is again you have a massive health
impact but also cost impact in terms of pressure on
so that doesn't seem that seems to have totally missed
the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Which is you know, like how bizarre if you know,
if the Foreign Investment Review Board is reviewing it, and
you know, reviewing I think it's I'll double check the name.
I think their brook Field, but I could be yeah,
you know, if they're reviewing them buying other things within Australia,
but to you know, to to buy the health you know,
(08:52):
different assets within the health system, the private health system.
That's quite an unbelievable situation. And now as we are
experiencing know, like we've just touched on here in the
Northern Territory where the maternity services are closing. You know,
it's going to impact Australians.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Exactly and I could have a significant impact on the public.
You know, if healthcoat collapses, that's going to have a
massive impact on health system in the territory.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Hey, just on the maternity services because a group of
well a group of people have started a petition now
on the closure of the maternity services at the private hospital. Again,
this is something you and I have discussed on numerous occasions.
There's about you know, there's more than five hundred people
have signed this petition. It's something that is a big
(09:45):
concern to a lot of Territorians. But what are you hearing,
you know, from doctors, from obstetricians at this point in
time in terms of that transition once those services cease
at the Darwin Private Hospital.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Well, again there's a significant more pressure on the public hospital,
people potentially not wanting to come to the territory because
they haven't got private ceptric services here, a whole range
of issues. But I suppose the issue is if Healthcope
can't afford it, or it's not they can't budget for it,
then you know it's not a doable issue. But yet
(10:24):
we're going to have major flow on effects.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Has it been like, have you had much feedback in
terms of you know, like in terms of the long
term or in terms of the plans I suppose for
those wanting to go private or not? Not really at
this point.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
No, I haven't heard much feedback on that.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Well, look, we'll stay onto it because as I said,
there's plenty of people that are still pretty worried about this.
I know there's lots of families that they just want
that choice. And I think that's fair enough if you're paying,
you know, if you're paying your private health. And then
when you look at, as you touched on before, the
impact that it's going to have on the public hospital,
when you've got all these additional patients that are going
to need to birth at the public hospital.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Now, exactly totally agree, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well, Doctor Robert Parker, always good to talk to you.
I know you're a busy man. Thank you very much
for having a chat with us this morning, no.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Worries, good to talk.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Thank you.
The Australian Medical Association has unveiled its federal election wish
list and is calling for action to modernize medicare and
ease pressure on the public health system. It's also seeking
commitments from the major parties to tackle threats facing the
private health sector and a greater focus on preventative health
by implementing a sugar tax. Now joining us on the
(00:22):
line is the AMA's NT Branch president, Doctor Robert Parker.
Good morning, Doctor.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Parker, Woman Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Dr Parker, what changes would the AMA like to see
when it comes to medicare?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Well, I think, as I mentioned on your program previously.
Sorry I'm in a public area. Off the background noise,
that's all right. The actual current medical system was designed
on lost cat kitchen table, you know withersdoy in Melbourne
in nineteen sixty seven with Gotwolman, Cass and Scotland deevil
(00:57):
ent attendments and it's totally outdated. The the time based
system that is currently based on is totally out data
and I think you mentioned it to Minister Butler after
my interview and he agreed with me. The problem is
it's not adapted aid of the aging population. We've got
with multiple medical problems, and the know a lot of
(01:20):
issues with chronic illness, particularly diabetes, respiratory in these cardiac
issues and the as I've put suggestions up for a reformation,
I think of medicare too much more to accommodate those
issues within primary care, to make it easier for gps
to deal with it.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So in terms of the changes that you would sort
of like to see, I know that I know we've
already seen some commitments when it comes to medicare. It
doesn't sound like they go far.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Enough though, No, I think the AMY has put up
gestions that there be a process where complex illnesses can
be I think funded as a process issue rather than
the time based issue with patients and the general practitioner.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Now in terms much and in terms of you know,
what needs to happen to ease you know, or what
needs to happen when you look at this proposed seventier
rebate structure, I think that's been proposed. How would that
sort of benefit patients and what would it mean I
guess to you know, to a regular person like myself
or you know, or my children going into to see
(02:29):
a GP or going into you know, to see someone
when you've got a medical issue.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, I suppose it probably doesn't mean a lot to
you in your current youth and state of health all
the children, but as you get older and you develop
more and more chronic illness, it's probably much more appropriate
that stage.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Now, Dr Parker, I know there needs to be some
work done when it comes to easing pressure on our
public hospitals. What needs to happen in this space from
the AMA's perspective.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Well, obviously the public hospital system has been underfunded by
both sides of politics for many years, and unfortunately there's
been a sort of catch up with again the aging
population chronic illness which has put tremendous pressure and again
the lack of age care beds, And certainly the promise
(03:21):
by Prime Minister of Uneasy to develop an age care
facility in the territory is very welcome because again there's
a significant problem with our recurrent code yellows that you
and I have discussed over a number of years has
been the people sitting in the hospital beds will be
much been cared for the age care facilities. Yeah, yes, yeah,
(03:44):
certainly funny would be important.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean you and I have spoken about this
on so many occasions, haven't we, particularly for those age
care patients. We've spoken to Sushira from the Council of
the Aging about these yesterday. She said, Katie, great announcement,
but we probably need, you know, a one hundred and
fifty beads. She reckons that a lot of those beads
that have been promised or that were promised by the
PM on Friday, will be taken up almost immediately once
(04:09):
we've got them. If we end up with them.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, we also need people to care for those people,
we understand, you know, and that will probably involve people
from places such as the Philippines getting visas so they
can come over here and work and be appropriately trained.
And that's an issue with itself. I mean I've been
hearing it. For example, the NT has the most incredibly
obstructive bureaucratic issues for workers and workers that were taking
(04:37):
when we were trying to get dal On this is
it was taking months to actually get the visas approved.
Were as bar and Health managed to get similar visas
done in a couple of weeks, which meant all the
nurses rather than coming to the territory. When to bar
On Health in Julong, so obviously there's significant bureaucratic instructions
within our current health system that save us getting the work.
(04:59):
Is not just the some mortar, it's also the workers
we require to look after people when they're actually in there.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So what do you reckon we could do to try
and make that process a bit easier so we're actually
able to get those workers.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Well, that's obviously discussion needs to happen with the CEO
of the Health Department another similar department respects.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, hey, doctor Parker Anderson. There's also a bit of
a push from the AMA for a sugar tax. How
would that work and what would it sort of look like?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Well, you're aware, Katie, I mean, he is the most
incredibly difficult epidemic facing Australia currently and it's going to
be getting it it worse, and then more and more
people are going to be suffering from diabetes. Once people
have got it's incredibly you know, it's going to be
(05:47):
a significant number of medical complications, all of which are
very serious and it puts an apart from the stress
for individuals, it also puts a lot of stress on
the health system, you know, requiring macaire of those individuals.
So I suppose a sugar tax is one way of
trying to add a bit of weight into preventedive healthy
(06:09):
people buy rather than buying sugar sugar drinks and other
I think the sugar in them stick to food and
drink that there's less sugar and hopefully prevents your currency
diabetas and do you reckon?
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Then if we had a sugar tax, I mean, what
would some of that revenue raised go towards or you know,
would it be able to go towards you know, maybe
other preventative measures or dealing with some of the issues
that we've got when it comes to health.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
You would hope so. But I'm always very skeptical about
what the government does with whe the funding it gets
and where it puts it. Anywhere, there's just me and my.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Older excuse oh, you and me, both you and me
both doctor Parker. Hey, I want to ask you, sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
You go as an example you could actually develop you know,
I know there's been some very good, very good work
done on healthy food in the our Bridge communities and
the shops and I've been in our few communities recently
and be very impressed looking at the stores. What's the
fresher vegetables and other healthy FOD which is really good.
So that's where the money probably should go if it
is actually properly diverted. Okay, on to the next topic.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Well, I want to ask you about the situation and
what the AMA is wanting to see from the Commonwealth
when it comes to private health. I mean, we know
as territories we've already been impacted by the closure of
maternity services at the Darwin Private Hospital. What is the
AMA pushing for in this space.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Well, I think the OMA is pushing for a private
health authority to actually look at a the you know,
the provision of private health and the certification of it.
I mean we all know that if the private health
doesn't collapses in Australia, that puts immense pressure already on
a very stressed public health system. But then you've got
(07:57):
issues such as importance of it. I mean, we pointed
out that the Foreign Investment Review Board would have not
allowed the MOB that thought Healthscape to buy power stations
and they just said, oh no, problems. Take a take
by the hospital system and which is on the vergis
(08:17):
collapse now, which is again you have a massive health
impact but also cost impact in terms of pressure on
so that doesn't seem that seems to have totally missed
the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Which is you know, like how bizarre if you know,
if the Foreign Investment Review Board is reviewing it, and
you know, reviewing I think it's I'll double check the name.
I think their brook Field, but I could be yeah,
you know, if they're reviewing them buying other things within Australia,
but to you know, to to buy the health you know,
(08:52):
different assets within the health system, the private health system.
That's quite an unbelievable situation. And now as we are
experiencing know, like we've just touched on here in the
Northern Territory where the maternity services are closing. You know,
it's going to impact Australians.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Exactly and I could have a significant impact on the public.
You know, if healthcoat collapses, that's going to have a
massive impact on health system in the territory.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Hey, just on the maternity services because a group of
well a group of people have started a petition now
on the closure of the maternity services at the private hospital. Again,
this is something you and I have discussed on numerous occasions.
There's about you know, there's more than five hundred people
have signed this petition. It's something that is a big
(09:45):
concern to a lot of Territorians. But what are you hearing,
you know, from doctors, from obstetricians at this point in
time in terms of that transition once those services cease
at the Darwin Private Hospital.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Well, again there's a significant more pressure on the public hospital,
people potentially not wanting to come to the territory because
they haven't got private ceptric services here, a whole range
of issues. But I suppose the issue is if Healthcope
can't afford it, or it's not they can't budget for it,
then you know it's not a doable issue. But yet
(10:24):
we're going to have major flow on effects.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Has it been like, have you had much feedback in
terms of you know, like in terms of the long
term or in terms of the plans I suppose for
those wanting to go private or not? Not really at
this point.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
No, I haven't heard much feedback on that.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Well, look, we'll stay onto it because as I said,
there's plenty of people that are still pretty worried about this.
I know there's lots of families that they just want
that choice. And I think that's fair enough if you're paying,
you know, if you're paying your private health. And then
when you look at, as you touched on before, the
impact that it's going to have on the public hospital,
when you've got all these additional patients that are going
to need to birth at the public hospital.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Now, exactly totally agree, Katie.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well, Doctor Robert Parker, always good to talk to you.
I know you're a busy man. Thank you very much
for having a chat with us this morning, no.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Worries, good to talk.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Thank you.
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