Fed: Health workers say changes will kill Medicare

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Fed: Health workers say changes will kill Medicare

MELBOURNE, April 28 AAP - The multi-million dollar federal government reforms announcedtoday would kill off Medicare, the health workers' union said.

The Health Services Union of Australia (HSUA) said the Medicare reforms would increasepressure on public hospitals because people would no longer be able to afford to see GPs.

"Already thousands of families each day end up in emergency departments because theycan't afford to pay doctor's fees or no doctor in their area is working after hours,"

HSUA national secretary Craig Thomson said.

"This will only make that problem worse - it is effectively the death of Medicare as we know it."

Mr Thomson said funding to public hospitals should increase dramatically to help themcope with the extra load.

"Why is the government running a $2 billion surplus and not spending the money on makingsure that bulk-billing continues to be available for all Australians?" he said.

Mr Thomson said the HSUA would lobby Labor and minor parties to block the changes in the Senate.

AAP bja/dk/ph/br

KEYWORD: MEDICARE HSUA