21st Apr 2011
NEW Zealand’s most influential GP has delivered a stark warning to the Australian Government as it prepares to unleash the first Medicare Locals: Don’t make the same mistake the NZ Government did.
Dr Peter Foley, chair of the New Zealand Medical Association, said Australia must learn from the hugely unpopular introduction of Crown Health Enterprises – similar to Australia’s Medicare Locals (MLs) – which he said had failed to ensure adequate GP leadership.
“If the [Australian] Government truly regards general practice as central to the delivery of primary healthcare… then this position must not be undermined by any top-down direction of how that might be delivered,” Dr Foley told MO.
Dr Foley’s warning came after the AMA recently wrote to all Australian federal parliamentarians arguing the ML model “does not give adequate recognition to the fundamental role of GPs”, and warned it may repeat the failure of the New Zealand reforms.
“The GP team – doctors and nurses – must be consulted and involved in every step in the design of any new system. Respectful engagement and collaborative development with real clinicians is crucial to achieving the necessary buy-in and subsequent success of any health reforms,” Dr Foley said.
AGPN CEO David Butt agreed the New Zealand reforms had “disempowered” GPs but believed Australia had already “learned from New Zealand”.
“They made mistakes and didn’t realise the central role of GPs, [but] our models are different. All the things that the divisions are doing now with GPs will be continued,” he said.
Tags: Dr Peter Foley, Medicare Locals, New Zealand, David Butt, AGPN
22nd Apr 2011
1:08am