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The Consumers Health Forum has today told the Senate inquiry in the Commission of Audit that medical co-payments should not be introduced.

鈥淎ustralian consumers already face among the highest out of pocket health costs in the world. More than 10 per cent of Australians put off getting recommended medical care and medicines because of cost. Health insurance premiums have become an increasingly heavy burden forcing people to cut back on their cover,鈥� says CHF鈥檚 Director of Policy, Rebecca Vassarotti.

Ms Vassarotti told the Senate committee that many of the hundreds of people who have shared their health cost difficulties with the CHF have highlighted the disproportionate impact of co-payments on vulnerable people.

鈥淔amilies who have shared their stories include those who have needed to choose between purchasing medicines and food, and those who do not access healthcare because they simply cannot afford it, and those who find the cost of specialist care beyond them and as a consequence are unable to work.鈥�

The CHF 聽has submitted to the Commission Audit proposals where substantial savings could be made, including accelerating measures to exploit cheaper prescribed medicine costs and more performance based payments for health care.