The Tasmanian state government recently announced a landmark scheme to improve access to health care around the state. They will rollout a new government-run model called “TassieDoc” to set up five new bulk-billing general practitioner (GP) clinics. This bold proposal is a direct response to the urgent healthcare needs of the Tasmanian people. Residents are becoming accustomed to waiting weeks to get an appointment with a GP, and thousands are suffering under the financial stress imposed by the difference between what doctors charge and what Medicare pays.
Recently, Premier Jeremey Rockliff committed to matching Labor’s proposed initiatives and more for TassieDoc. He pledged more to make our healthcare services stronger than ever. The plan includes operating hours outside of typical business times for the new clinics. They will be open on evenings and weekends to accommodate patients’ schedules.
Government’s Commitment to Healthcare
The Tasmanian government is doing all it can to lure general practitioners to metropolitan and bush settings. They will use very large financial carrots to drive this change. For the second urban GPs can access up to 100 payments of $10,000 each. At the same time, 50 rural practitioner payments of $20,000 will enable specialists to establish or expand in rural and regional Australia. The collective value of these incentive payments adds up to $2 million in investment. Keen to secure more qualified GPs in the state, the initiative will primarily focus on keeping people there.
Premier Rockliff enjoyed that the model would help “over unlocking so much potential” and more. He continued, “This model will be incredibly attractive for GPs to come, live and work in Tasmania. Specifically, he pointed to how the initiative would help tackle years of inequities when it comes to accessing healthcare in communities large and small around the state.
The RACGP is an enthusiastic supporter of the TassieDoc model. Those are all excellent ideas to improve human-centered healthcare delivery. According to Dr Ella Haddad of the RACGP, the infrastructure support will be matched by the government providing nursing and administration—essential personnel. This funding will help keep doctors focused where they belong – on patient care.
Addressing Community Needs
Tim Jones, one of the biggest champions of the policy, said that at heart, the initiative is about prioritizing. Its intent is to serve communities that are today’s healthcare deserts. He noted that “we think it’s particularly going to benefit those communities who are missing out at the moment.” Prof Jones pointed out that Tasmania is currently training a record number of GPs. Despite this, most of these professionals have little to no business experience and do not operate their own clinics.
This new model aims to alleviate such challenges by allowing GPs to concentrate on delivering quality patient care without the distractions of business management. Jones continued, “We are confident that this new model will enable them to do their best work and take great care of their patients, by freeing them up to do so.”
Yet, many experts have warned against the dangers of government entering the business of operating general practices. Dr. Ben Dodds expressed cautious optimism but warned that “it’s an interesting line for the state to cross.” He focused on the need for the government to develop expertise in the art of successfully running healthcare facilities. It’s a space where government has a hard time coming by experience.
Challenges Ahead
Though the initiative has been warmly received by the community, there are still hurdles to clear. If local governments generally incur a loss running general practices, as we have seen in places such as Huon Valley, the development of sustainable funding models and operational frameworks for the success of such government-run clinics is the greatest omission.
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Health, emphasized the importance of collaborating with GPs across Tasmania to ensure that additional services are effectively delivered statewide. She said, “We will work closely with GPs and together with them, we will determine the most effective way to provide more GP services in more locations across the state.” Implementing innovative strategies like the ones found in Legana and Bicheno will be crucial. They will go a long way toward fixing local healthcare deficiencies.
