Livid Bob Katter calls out government for failing to address healthcare crisis

Kennedy MP Bob Katter slammed the federal government for putting women’s lives at risk after failing to review the current Medicare rebate rates.

Livid over the government’s failure to update Medicare rebates, local leaders warn Queenslanders’ lives are at risk due to inadequate healthcare services. Picture: Brendan Radke

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has slammed the federal government for putting women’s lives at risk after failing to review the current Medicare rebate rates.

Mr Katter welcomed the reinstatement of diagnostic breast imaging in Cairns but said the community continues to suffer.

Private provider Queensland X-Ray “temporarily” suspended its diagnostic breast screening services in November 2024 due to the inability to find a permanent radiologist specialised in women’s imaging.

Following the Cairns Post’s Critical Condition campaign, a new radiologist was announced last month and started this week.

“Once upon a time, we had one of the best healthcare systems in the world, but successive governments have let it go to wreck and ruin,” he said.

“People are waiting years for vital operations and now women are dying because they don’t have access to early intervention programs.”

(L-R) Dr Lisa Fraser, Dr Grant Manypeney, ex-Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, Dr Rod Catton (ret’d) and Bob Katter Picture: Supplied

Delays in Cairns blew out to four months when Queensland X-Ray temporarily closed with operations reinstated on March 3 with the appointment of senior radiologist Kevin Daynes.

Mr Katter said it had become common place to have wait lists which are months long and doctors working around-the-clock.

“Doctors are postponing their retirements so that their patients can keep receiving the care they need,” he said.

“Some clinics have been without a doctor entirely and some forced to shut down.”

Sarah Sexton said Private scans can cost anywhere from $600 to more than $800. Picture: Brendan Radke

Gordonvale GP, Dr Lisa Fraser said low Medicare rebates for breast imaging were discouraging new graduates from pursuing careers and making it treatment unaffordable.

“We are not seeing new graduates interested in breast imaging because the Medicare rate is ridiculously low,” she said.

“Breast screening is a national issue but everything is experienced more acutely in rural areas, and as a community we are suffering.”

Ms Fraser said the cost of a late cancer diagnosis, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy was astronomical, “especially compared to the cost of early intervention measures like image screening”.

“I don’t understand the logic of the bean counters down south,” she said.

“Increasing the Medicare rate for breast imaging would encourage people to choose it as a career ensuring services are available for early cancer detection.”

Dr Lisa Fraser, Dr Rod Catton (ret’d) and Bob Katter addressing media outside Dr Lisa’s clinic in Gordonvale. Picture: Supplied.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Aged Care said workforce issues were identified as the main cause of access problems in Cairns and regional areas, following a meeting with ADIA, I-MED, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) in early February.

“Diagnostic radiology will be one of the next priority specialties to be eligible for expedited registration pathways for international medical graduates,” he said.

It means areas such as Cairns will be able to recruit overseas trained diagnostic radiologists faster from comparable jurisdictions like the UK and New Zealand.

“Specialists who come through expedited pathways are required to work in areas with lower access to healthcare services such as Cairns,” the spokesman said.

The government is conducting a gender audit of Medicare, focusing on gender-based differences in diagnostic imaging MBS items, and is currently reviewing the feedback received. Picture: iStock.

Additionally, the government is undertaking a gender audit of Medicare, looking specifically at gender-based differences in MBS items for diagnostic imaging.

“The review is focused on specific ultrasound and breast diagnostic imaging services, assessing the schedule fees and the appropriate clinical use of 52 identified items,” the spokesman said.

The aim being to assess whether current items align with best practices, reflect the time, complexity, and costs of services, and ensure patient access while maintaining the quality and safety of ultrasound imaging.

“To assist with the review, two working groups were established with expertise from relevant medical colleges,” he said.

“This included breast imaging (mammography and ultrasound) and ultrasound items (pelvic, obstetric, gynaecological, scrotal, prostate, and penile items).”

The department said it was now reviewing the responses and feedback received.

Originally published as Livid Bob Katter calls out government for failing to address healthcare crisis