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ANMF Acting Federal Secretary Annie Butler says Tony Abbott's attack on Medicare has ripped the heart out of the Australian health system.
"As a former Health Minister, he should be ashamed of that,鈥� Ms Butler continued.
鈥淯ltimately, it鈥檚 everyday Australians who will suffer. They will be paying $7 to see a GP and paying more every time they go to get their prescriptions filled.
鈥淯nder this Budget, it鈥檚 now only people with their credit cards handy who will be able to get care. The others, who can鈥檛 afford it, like low income earners, the elderly and struggling families, will be forced to put off seeking medical treatment until it鈥檚 too late. That means people will get sicker and sicker, deprived of the care they need.鈥�
Ms Butler said all Australians already pay for universal healthcare through tax, the Medicare levy and private insurance for those who can afford it.
鈥淎s a nation, we already have one of the highest out of pocket costs ($1075 per year) for healthcare in the world and this will massively increase as the Government moves to destroy Medicare,鈥� Ms Butler explained.
鈥淭he Government claims patient fees will help sustain the health system, but this is destined to fail, as it will only increase costs and worsen health outcomes. Co-payments will shift the cost burden onto individual consumers and the Australian public hospital system overall by driving more and more people into busy emergency departments.
鈥淏ut as frontline healthcare professionals, nurses know that people must seek treatment sooner rather than later, otherwise those so-called minor ailments develop into serious, often chronic illnesses which go on to require expensive chronic care in hospitals.
鈥淎s Australia鈥檚 largest health union, the ANMF is deeply concerned that the Government has failed to consult with nurses and midwives or any other health professionals on the best ways to sustain and improve the health system.
鈥淩ather than choosing to slash spending and end Medicare, Mr Abbott should be directing resources into preventative and primary care, preventing unnecessary procedures and readmissions which will control costs and ensure that we use evidence based practice.
鈥淩est assured, the ANMF will now fight to defend Medicare and the health of our nation and we urge the Senate to reject these changes and protect our health system because these cuts to health won鈥檛 heal.鈥�