Fed: Blewett says it could be time to overhaul Medicare

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2003
Fed: Blewett says it could be time to overhaul Medicare

Former Labor minister NEAL BLEWETT -- who implemented Medicare 20 years ago -- believes
it may be time to overhaul Australia's health-care system.

Both major parties are grappling to convince the public they have the answer for the
ailing system.

But Dr BLEWETT says it may be time to look at major changes, rather than just tinker
at its edges.

The government and the opposition are both promising to inject billions to prop up
Medicare as health shapes up as one of the major domestic political issues in the run-up
to the next election.

In 1983, Dr BLEWETT introduced Medicare putting in place a system which delivered free
access to public hospitals and visits to the doctor at the lowest possible expense.

By 1996, when Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD came to power, nearly 81 per cent of GPs bulk-billed
their patients.

Since then the bulk-billing rate has fallen to its lowest level in 14 years, hitting
67.4 per cent in the September quarter.

AAP RTV so/sb/wjf/de/swe/psm/

KEYWORD: MEDICARE (CANBERRA)

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