A new national health network, dubbed Medicare Locals, will provide over-the-phone diagnoses and make appointments with local after-hours GPs.
The Government also will build an extra 23 GP Super clinics, on top of 36 already promised, and extend services at a further 425 GP clinics.
GP surgeries will get an extra 4600 practice nurses under a $390 million incentive deal worth $25,000 for every GP.
And $466 million will be spent creating an individual electronic health record for all Australians.
The Budget fills in the blanks on the Government's health reform blueprint, which focused on revitalising hospital services.
The entire $7.3 billion health revamp will be funded through a $1.9 billion clawback from drug companies and a $5 billion tobacco tax increase.
Medicare Locals will link around 70 local GP networks into a combined national system from July next year at a cost of $416.8 million.
People who need a doctor at night will be able to call their local GP, with the call routed to a national hotline if the practice is closed.
The call centre will be staffed by trained doctors and nurses who will provide basic advice and diagnoses.
When doctors are needed, the service will find local after-hours GPs and make appointments for patients.
"This means knowing that your loved ones can get the care they need," Health Minister Nicola Roxon said.
The measure will help limit unnecessary and costly visits to hospital emergency departments, which clog services for those who need them.
GP Super Clinics were one of the headline health promises at the last election, but only three have been completed so far.
The pledge of more Super Clinics will anger the powerful doctors' lobby, which says the new services will put local GPs out of business.
But the expansion of 425 local health services and GP surgeries under a $355 million building program will be welcomed by medicos.
The e-health investment follows the introduction of legislation to allow the creation of electronic health records.
The system initially will be rolled out to chronically ill Australians and others with complex conditions, who stand to benefit most.
Under a deal with drug makers, the Government has managed to slash the amount it pays for commonly used medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Consumers will pay no more and could make savings on some drugs.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ben Packham
Quelle/Source: Herald Sun, 12.05.2010
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