In Question Time today the Prime Minister refused to rule out immunisation rates decreasing or pap smears and prostate examinations being avoided because of his new GP Tax.
His own Health Minister last night confirmed that the intention of this new tax is to deter visits to GPs.
Journalist: [Is the idea] ‘that it sends a price signal to people which will deter unnecessary visits to the doctor’?
Dutton: Yes it is. Unashamedly that is one of the policy outcomes...
(PVO News Hour – 26 May 2014)
There is no such thing as a an unnecessary visit to a GP for a vaccination, an HIV test, a pap smear or a prostate examination. Despite advice from across the sector that the Government’s plan to introduce a GP Tax is bad policy that will damage the system, Tony Abbott continues to insist that he knows best and is pursuing the policy anyway.
During Question Time today the Prime Minister asserted his government would not ‘provide services that simply cannot be afforded’.
(TONY ABBOTT – QUESTION TIME – 27 MAY 2014)
The outcome for patients who avoid visits to GPs, especially for vaccinations, pap smears and prostate examinations have the potential to be devastating. This policy will in no way create a more efficient health system. Australians who end up in hospital because of these changes are only going to cost the government more to treat in the long-term and become much sicker.
And the Prime Minister was unable to answer whether immunisation rates would be affected by the GP Tax.
It is not Labor that is making this assertion but the Australian medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Both of these organisations have expressed concern that the new tax will deter families from having their children immunised, especially those on low incomes
This is a tax based on lies that will spell the end of Medicare.