New funding blow for local health

GEELONG has suffered a third blow amid a tit-for-tat health blame game between state and federal governments, according to a local medical sector leaders.
State Health Minister David Davis has accused Federal Government of a “savage funding cut” to the postgraduate general practice placement program.
But Geelong doctors, health sector leaders and educators are becoming increasingly frustrated at the blame game between the two levels of government.
They have privately told the Independent of their despair and annoyance as funding cuts bite without action from either side.
Health sector leaders said the latest cuts were a federal response to a State Government reduction in post-graduate training places last year, shifting costs back to the Commonwealth.
The latest funding blow follows $4.9 million sliced from Geelong Hospital’s budget and the cutting of the Medicare rebates for a “telehealth” initiative.
The Independent reported two weeks ago that the initiative, enabling doctors to access specialist consultations via the Internet, suffered cuts of $134 million.
Deakin University Health Pro Vice-Chancellor Brendan Crotty said cooperation between state and federal governments would result in better ways to train doctors.
“The shortage of post graduate places is frustrating because rather than a systematic approach to it is we have governments scoring political points off each other,” Prof Crotty said.
“Instead, they should be sitting down and working out the most cost effective way to do what is needed.”