Brisbane doctors tackle the affordability of healthcare at Q&A

 Brisbane doctors examined the pressing issue of health funding at a lively Q&A forum moderated by ABC TV’s Tony Jones and hosted by The Wesley Hospital and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital on Saturday 13 June.

Almost 220 GPs, medical specialists and healthcare professionals explored the topic `Good Healthcare: Can we afford it?' at the UnitingCare Health event held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The expert panel tackled a range of questions about increased health insurance costs, healthcare rationing and funding end-of-life care. Other issues raised included clinical redesign, research funding and non-means tested public health.

Panel chair Associate Professor Dr Luis Prado, Chief Medical Officer for UnitingCare Health and Director of Medical Services at The Wesley Hospital, said the question of how the community will meet the future cost of good health, particularly as medicine becomes more technologically advanced, needed more discussion.

"Again this year, the Q&A event has been a useful format for addressing some of the hot topics facing the medical community,” he said.

“By bringing together the Queensland Minister for Health, expert representatives from the public and private health sectors, the insurance industry and general practice, we were able to speak honestly and openly about the challenges facing healthcare and work towards some solutions.”