Dire shortage of NT GPs sparks new intervention fears
Posted
A national report into government services published today shows the Territory has the lowest number of general practitioners in Australia.
The Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision shows GP numbers in the Territory are about half the national average on a per capita basis.
The Territory Health Minister Chris Burns hopes a ministerial meeting in Melbourne today will provide an opportunity to argue a hardship case with the Commonwealth.
"GP numbers in the Territory are low, very low, compared to elsewhere in Australia. That underlines the need to work with the Commonwealth, particularly with the new health care agreement, to try and encourage more doctors into our more remote areas and even into our urban areas as well.
"We've boosted the health budget by 73 percent since we've come to power. That's meant more doctors, more nurses, more services. But I acknowledge that there's more to do ... particularly in addressing primary health care for Indigenous people."
The report also shows a high rate of miscarriages and stillbirths and poor breast cancer screening participation and detection in the Territory.
Mr Burns will also use his time in Melbourne to visit two superclinics to look at what sort of resources could be included in the superclinic promised for Palmerston.
Opposition fears health intervention
The figures come a day after another report outlined major failings in the Territory's health system, particularly in leadership and accreditation.
The Northern Territory Opposition health spokesman now fears a Commonwealth intervention into local health provisions along the lines of last year's takeover of certain Indigenous responsibilities.
The CLP's Matt Conlan says the Minister needs to the fix the problems in health now to avoid a similiar intervention in health.
"There is talk of it already, of the Rudd Government taking over certain areas of state and territory health.
"If there's one person who is able to make more of a mess of the Territory health system then Chris Burns, it's (Federal Health Minister) Niclola Roxon."
