Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Health efficiency plan ‘misses opportunities’ for GPs Degree of recognition National Media name/outlet NewsGP Media type Web Country/Territory Australia Date 27/08/25 Description Reducing ‘excessive’ red tape and acknowledging GPs as ‘central to high-quality prevention’ are key to efficient healthcare, says the RACGP amid a Productivity Commission inquiry...
However, RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care Chair Professor Mark Morgan, who sent an RACGP submission to the inquiry, said the report falls short of the standard set out by the college, saying GPs remain ‘central to high-quality prevention’.
‘The interim report misses opportunities to build on what we know works well – high-performing, enabled and well-funded general practice,’ he told newsGP.
The RACGP submission calls for measures to support general practice multidisciplinary teams, general practice-based pharmacists, and health assessments across the lifespan....
However, there is no mention of the concept of quaternary prevention outlined in the college submission – a concept designed to reduce the risk of harmful over-testing and over-medicalisation.
Professor Morgan said the interim report also does not recognised the ‘huge role that could be played by the volunteer and community sector in keeping people healthy and independent’.
‘Social prescribing – where a health practitioner connects a person to local, affordable, group activities is a way to tap into the volunteer and community sector,’ he said.
‘[It] can help address loneliness, mental illness, the need for physical activity. It goes further – by strengthening communities and providing meaning through opportunities to volunteer.’
While the Productivity Commission emphasised the need for collaboration, it set out recommendations for ‘collaborative commissioning’ with PHNs, Local Hospital Networks and ACCHOs working together to plan, source and evaluate local services.
‘The RACGP view is that GPs need to be key players in these collaborative commissioning partnerships,’ Professor Morgan said.
‘I look forward to a future where GPs inform a ‘one health’ approach to achieving regional health outcomes.
‘This might require cost shifting from very expensive hospital services towards prevention-focused multidisciplinary teams working in general practice.’...
Professor Morgan again emphasised the fundamental role of GPs in delivering more efficient and effective care.
‘There is no doubt that high quality and well-resourced general practice underpins the health outcomes Australia wants to achieve,’ he said.
The Productivity Commission will deliver a final report after considering follow-up submissions, including from the RACGP, which are due by 15 September.Producer/Author Jolyon Attwooll URL https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/productivity-report-misses-opportunities-for-gener?utm_source=racgpnewsgpnewsletter&utm_campaign=newsgpedm&utm_medium=email Persons Mark Morgan