We have sent our Petition to the Hon Jim Chalmers and Hon Mark Butler. It was sent with 1,188 support signatures and every comment why this industry of workers needs are far greater and any funding should go to the workforce rather than their employers! 

Those who have seen the letters of brutal reality that get sent from the PCA, can imagine what Minister Chalmers and Minister Butler read, yet here is a small snippet; 

My main reason for contacting you today is to confirm we understand that there are no cuts being made on behalf of the Government. More importantly, is to share some insight into where funds are truly required and feedback to a way forward from our members and colleagues in referring Doctors. I’m sure that you are aware, Australian Pathology, the advocacy group representing the three largest private pathology companies,

is pushing for an increase in Medicare funding. They've packaged their agenda under the guise of "Keep Pathology Bulk Billed" to gain public support. 

Our Members and their colleagues who work in patient facing roles in Pathology that do not support the Private Pathology in receiving any more commonwealth funds without stricter regulations on how it will be invested to maintain safety and quality for employees and patients.

Many Doctors do not support Australian Pathology's Campaign to introduce a Gap Fee whilst their patients cannot find a Collection Clinic to attend due to the Pathology Staffing Crisis and would prefer to see the wages of their colleagues, the Phlebotomists, raised instead.

Private Pathology has demonstrated a lack of responsible management of Government Funding. Currently the NPAAC Accreditation Standards are being lifted under consultation with The Commission for Health and Safety in Healthcare* so that Private Pathology Services are forced to provide safe and fit for purpose workplaces and Collection Centres for their Employees and Patients. The fact that they haven't to date, demonstrates the lack of moral and ethics that has been on clear arrogant display of these companies. This consultation will end in 2025 and we have discussed at length how many Collection Clinics would require substantial upgrades to meet the new requirements and this would be many, quite possibly 70%. We have looked at our figures and discussed with our referring Legal Counsels how many Phlebotomists have been injured in the workplace due to the environment not being Fit For Purpose and the estimated number is 30%. It is imperative to have the Pathology Environment brought up to the same safety standards as the rest of the Australian Healthcare Sector, we have been petitioning for this for some years. We fear that the Private Companies Shareholders control the direction of the company and Australia's access to Pathology, especially Bulk Billed, is being held at ransom by a bunch of corporate criminals. The amount these companies made during the Covid Pandemic will never happen again, no more Lear jets to fly samples around the country. They need to find a better way to operate than trading companies like Pokemon Cards and cutting all operational running costs and then wonder why the business isn’t running anymore. Government Mandated tests, with a Scomo gifted inflated Medicare rebate of over $100 a test for Private Pathology. (It was just under for Public Sector, Scomo had to give Private Sector just a little more)

Now it is really important that we continue to show the decision makers of Australia where the need for funding in Pathology is really needed.... to incentivise the people in pathology to stay in their role to stop the skills shortage. 

Please share this Petition with all of Australia as the CEO's at the Private Pathology Groups want more money and it is going to mean more taxpayer funds to companies that do not support the Australians who work in their own workplaces. We have raised other options to the Government that will see a more productive Australian Pathology Service. Time to stop the profiteering in privatised healthcare! 

We have been notified that Sonic and Healius have already raised Private Pathology fees. Healius have informed staff that unless a valid Medicare card is sighted at the time of the testing, patients will have to pay the private fee and go through the Medicare reclaiming process themselves. 

We are starting to see what happens when our healthcare services are held at ransom by Shareholders. Let's tell the Government that Australians won't succumb to Corporate Bullies!