Why is the Abbot government continuing to lean on those less fortunate in Australia? It seems it is the poor and the aged who have to do all of the heavy lifting with his almost-tyrannical policies.
The most recent, the GP co-payment plan, which suggests a $7 fee for visits to GPs and out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services from July next year. Now Australian patients, particularly seniors and disadvantaged groups, are already struggling to meet out-of-pocket health costs and could further be discouraged from seeking necessary care as a result of the government’s planned new co-payments.
What the Abbott government is doing now, is giving these unfortunate groups a rather terrible choice: choose a meal, or a visit to the GP. It is also only logical to conclude that with the onset of any sort of symptoms, a visit to the GP will now be avoided, and if those symptoms get worse a visit to the emergency department will be a direct result.
Without being an alarmist, with diseases such as Ebola going around, an early diagnosis is key. Even without Ebola, catching flu before it turns into pneumonia is just one example of how beneficial a visit to the GP is. Now Abbott wants us all to think twice before going to the GP?
Let's be honest, a healthy Australia is good for all Australians. Living in a country where you have to make a choice between a meal or a visit to a GP should not be allowed to happen. Australia has been voted as the happiest nation in the world. How long under Abbott will it take to change that statistic?
Tony Abbott, enough is enough. The poor, the disadvantaged, the aged cannot bear the brunt of this ridiculous plan, or any more of your policies for that matter. We demand you stop this GP co-payment plan now.
