The introduction of a co-payment for GP visits is inevitable, says Healthscope chief Robert Cooke. Photo: Andrew Quilty
Healthscope chief executive Robert Cooke said the government has done a poor job at selling its proposed $7 co-payment for medical care and warned its application to pathology would cause an administrative headache.
Presenting his first set of results following Healthscope’s $3.6 billion float a month ago, Mr Cooke said he supported co-payment for visits to a general practitioner, especially with a safety net that kicks in after 10 visits.
But he said the government had stumbled in its attempt to promote the proposal.
“Obviously the sales messaging of this, [and] this is a personal view, it’s been pretty poorly handled and there are lots of confusing messages out there,” he told an analyst call.