Western Australia’s peak body for Aboriginal health says it will refuse to pass the Federal Government’s proposed $7 Medicare co-payment onto its patients.
The Aboriginal Health Council says it will meet the cost of the co-payment itself because it is concerned patients will no longer be able to afford healthcare.
The decision is likely to cost the sector millions of dollars.
Council chair Marelda Tucker said it would also lead to job losses in an industry that employs the biggest number of Aboriginal people in the country, but it was the only way to ensure Aboriginal people could access a doctor.
“We’ve taken drastic action because we care about our people,” she said.
“We want our people to live, we are tired of going to funerals, we are tired of burying our people.
“We need to take these drastic steps to make sure that our people survive.”
Ms Tucker said the Derby Aboriginal Health Service, for example, treated 41,040 people last year and stood to lose $287,000 annually by not passing the co-payment onto patients.
Forcing patients to pay would mean they would be much less likely to visit a doctor, which could lead to serious health issues.
“To pay $7 at the doctor may mean going without bread and milk,” she said.
“It means that people could be put off going to the doctor and could eventually become chronic disease sufferers.”
Ms Tucker said the council had been left with no alternative and hoped the Federal Government would take notice.
“By making our stance, we’re hoping that the government will see that we mean business about Aboriginal health,” she said.
“They need to mean business about Aboriginal employment and Aboriginal health as well.”