“The best way to prevent chronic illness and to treat chronic illness is through GPs. Tony Abbott’s plan to introduce a GP Tax will create a barrier to Australians seeing their doctor and make this situation worse,” said Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King.
The report also ‘shows that we have increasingly longer life expectancy, lower death rates for cancer and many other diseases, and a health system that people say they are mostly happy with’.
“This makes an absolute nonsense of Tony Abbott’s claim that health funding is not sustainable and shows the dangers associated with ripping apart Medicare and creating an American style health system,” Ms King said.
According to the AIHW’s CEO, “chronic diseases have often been called Australia’s greatest health challenge – and while not solely related to behavioural factors in all cases, can be heavily linked to smoking, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and the harmful use of alcohol. This can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health issues.”
These are all problems that will only be worsened because of Tony Abbott’s cuts to preventive health programs and intention to impose a GP Tax.
Labor will fight these changes and stand up for Medicare.