President’s Word: How can we do better?

For many years, the medical profession has fought an outward battle.
The medical indemnity crisis, the doctors’ dispute, the Medicare provider number disaster – these battles brought doctors together to fight against the erosion of quality healthcare in Australia. They galvanised the profession, and helped demonstrate to members and Government how strong a voice doctors have when we work together.

The Federal Government’s failure to adequately address the Medicare freeze and to appropriately fund public hospitals means we must continue to fight these outward battles, and as the profession’s most powerful lobby, the AMA remains committed to doing so.

However, in recent years the medical profession has also been fighting an inward battle. After a significant period of self-reflection, some ugly truths about our profession have been uncovered. There is a dark side to being a doctor, and issues such as bullying and sexual harassment, as well as doctor suicide have come to the surface.

While it’s been confronting to talk about these issues, these inward battles signify an important change in the profession. They mark a departure from ‘The way we’ve always done things’ to ‘How can we do things better?’

For the interns of 2018, my message to you is simple. In addition to absorbing the innumerable lessons about our healthcare system and what it means to be a doctor, keep that one question in mind – for we can always do better.

Change is not easy, and it’s particularly uncomfortable for some more than others. It’s divisive in a way that fighting for health funding is not. But not only is change necessary – it’s the right thing to do.

Similarly, AMA’s focus on social issues has not been popular with all members. Our advocacy for same-sex marriage was based on our belief that marriage equality is a health issue. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ) Australians experience significantly poorer health outcomes as a direct result of discrimination. And as doctors, we have a duty to fight against discrimination in all forms. It’s the right thing to do.

The same argument can be made for the current situation on Manus Island. We have an ethical responsibility to ensure the mental and physical health of asylum seekers in detention is maintained.

These men are under the care of the Federal Government, and therefore the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers is Australia’s responsibility. As such, they deserve the same level of healthcare that Australians receive.

As I write this, the situation at Manus Island grows incredibly dire. The last of the 300 men who had previously refused to leave the now-closed detention facility have all been forcibly removed and taken to alternative sites. And while the Government maintains the new facilities are adequate, humanitarian agencies warn the medical services there are not.

On the one hand, Minister Peter Dutton promises greater transparency from the International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), meanwhile independent organisations such Medecins Sans Frontieres were denied access to asylum seekers, as was the Federal AMA in its bid to lead a group of medical experts.

How can you increase transparency, while at the same time closing the door to independent health groups?

That is not open, transparent and appropriate health care. And that is not the care that ordinary Australians receive.

We want equitable care for asylum seekers, because that is at the core of what doctors do – we care for people. All people. Regardless of race, religion, country of origin, age, gender identity or sexuality – it is a basic moral tenet of our profession to provide healthcare to all humans to the upmost of our ability.

And if we are going to persuade the Government to uphold its promise to provide the same level of healthcare ordinary Australians receive, then we need to come together as a profession and unite our voices. Whether we are fighting for more funding, increases to the Medicare rebate, marriage equality, or healthcare for asylum seekers. We must fight together – because it’s the right thing to do.