Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan is calling on the community for calm and respect in the wake of this week’s media reports of incidents of Medicare fraud from some in the Australian GP community.
“I think it’s important to remember that a few bad apples should not taint the trust and respect communities have for their local GPs,” Mr Conaghan said.
“As with everything in society, there are those few who illegally take advantage for personal gain. Whether that be JobSeeker, flood and fire relief packages or any other kind of Government payment, there will be those who abuse the system. This should not then mean that every program participant is to be tarred with the same brush.
“I certainly won’t be politicising this issue over our hard-working regional GPs for point scoring and sensationalism.
“In the regions, we are finding it hard enough to attract adequate numbers of GPs. Demotivating them by pointing an unvalidated and accusatory finger their way is not helping our cause.”
Mr Naveen Lingaiah is one of the Mid North Coast GP practice CEO’s frustrated by the rhetoric being used and feels it is an attack on the credibility of regional GPs who give their all to the communities they serve.
“I believe that these articles have tarred the entire GP and medical profession with unverified data”, Mr Lingaiah stated.
“Continued propagation of this will erode the confidence of dedicated people who form the very basis of our health system. It seems to be written by so called experts who have little to no understanding of what a GP does for their patients and their communities every single day and the kind of dedication required to provide a good service.”
RACGP CEO Paul Wappett released an article this week echoing this sentiment and defending the hard working GP community.
“[With] a ‘gotcha’ media culture that leaps on any suggestion that there are greedy doctors rorting the system, it is easy to see how some battle-weary GPs may be looking for the exit.” Mr Wappett stated.
“One only needs to read the most recent Health of the Nation report to recognise the overwhelming evidence that general practice’s current working conditions are not sustainable.
“The overwhelming majority of GPs entered general practice to serve their communities, and these reports are an insult to their commitment to public good.
[We should] support them, in the same way that they support us – from the cradle to the grave.”