This petition is relevant to all GPs, GP practice owners and patients.
With all the advocacy from AMA, RACGP, ACCRM and even our patients the government is still not addressing current problems facing GPs. We need some consolidated, collaborative action as GPs and service users to initiate change. The solutions seem simple and need to be actioned immediately for the following reasons:

• To be able to provide affordable and equitable health care to Australians from all walks of life.
• To attract more doctors into the GP field of practice
• GPs are integral in keeping the cost of overall healthcare affordable and every dollar spent in primary preventative health care saves thousands down the line.

What we are Asking ?

1. The government MUST increase the rebate for GPS to make up for the indexation freezes over the years. This will help increase the number of medicos applying to get into GP practices and boost our numbers with our locally trained doctors. They should also increase the
   remuneration for longer consultations allowing GPs to provide better quality care for patients with chronic diseases..
2. The government needs to increase financial support to GP practices to keep up with the running costs that have especially over the last three years been subject to significant inflation and have resulted in many practices closing in lower socio-economic areas.
3. The government needs to change the archaic Medicare laws that are so restrictive with GP billings. For example, patients should be allowed to just pay gap fees and have rest of consult or procedures separately bulk billed so patients in lower socio-economic areas are not required
   to pay all up front before rebate. They don’t seem to understand that not everybody has credit cards and not everyone has enough to pay up front immediately.
4. Practices should be allowed to charge booking fees to reduce DNA and GP time wastage. 
5. Practices should be allowed to charge a reasonable enrollment fee to help mitigate the running costs and help practices provide suitable consumables for management of wounds (for example) if they Bulk Bill consultations.
6. Practices should be allowed to raise revenue by being able to charge for certain appliances/consumables and specific wound dressings.
7. Decrease red-tape to employ GPs from suitable overseas countries.
   These are simple changes that can be introduced to help the current situation.

IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW we will end up with a two-tiered health system where those with wealth will be able to afford health care and other will suffer. Health, like food and housing is an essential need of all.

If you agree please sign the petition that will be sent to the The Hon Mr Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

www.pm.gov.au/contact
and Minister of health (Hon Mr. Mark Butler)
minister.butler@health.gov.au.

Kind Regards,

Dr Mahadeo
GP Principal
Goodna Family Medica Centre
Doctors for Doctors and our Patients