The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland has reacted with surprise to a $365 million (US$245 million) promise from state Premier Steven Miles to build 50 new bulk-billing GP clinics across Queensland.
AMA Queensland President Dr. Nick Yim said the move prompted concern that governments were failing to understand the challenges faced by GP clinics.
Under Labor’s plan, 50 new GP clinics would be built across the state. The clinics would receive free rent in exchange for offering bulk-billed services to patients.
“We will fund and build 50 new bulk-billing GP clinics right across Queensland,” Miles announced at the Robina Medical and Dental Centre on the weekend.
“Too many people are paying out-of-pocket expenses of 40 or more dollars every time they have to see a GP, we are determined to fix that.
“All too often the cost of seeing a GP, the cost of healthcare is a cost-of-living concern.”
When quizzed by journalists on whether there had been any animosity between Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, given bulk-billing is usually in the Commonwealth domain, he simply said “we’re good mates.”
Kim said federal governments had failed to adequately sustain bulk billing.
“Medicare rebates and bulk billing are largely the responsibility of the federal government, so it is good to see the state government’s commitment to primary care and general practice,” he said in a statement.
“This is needed because successive federal governments have failed. However, this announcement is a surprise and I am concerned that governments at all levels do not truly understand the operational costs of a general practice.
“This is another announcement about new infrastructure, not about assisting patients to access their regular GP and practice.”
Kim said the biggest issue facing the medical profession was a lack of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff, not infrastructure.
“We need to stop splitting our healthcare workforce with costly and inefficient new centres like ‘urgent care clinics,’ nurse-led walk-in clinics, and these proposed new bulk billing centres,” he said.
The federal Labor government has spent the last two years rolling out its urgent care clinic program across the country, aimed at taking pressure off the hospital system.
“This is a substantial investment that could benefit all Queenslanders, not just those in 50 unspecified locations,” said Kim.
“It takes time and money to build and fit out new centres. Most patients have GPs who they already know and trust, and governments should fund them to access their trusted GP and practice staff who know them and have been caring for them.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was critical of the proposal.
“It’s another desperate attempt to try and paper over the fact that Queensland Health is in crisis,” he told reporters.
The announcement also received criticism from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) who have been calling for more doctors and health workers.
“We urgently need to accelerate the growth in Australia’s GP workforce to meet increasing patient demand,” RACGP President Doctor Nicole Higgins said in a statement.
“The need for general practice care is skyrocketing due to Australia’s ageing and growing population, and epidemic of chronic illness.
“The health department predicts a shortage of 5,560 GPs by 2033—work to avoid this shortfall must start now.”
