VICDOC Autumn 2023 - Magazine - Page 65
FE D FACTS
HEALTH
SAFETY
-
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND
SAFETY ALWAYS AHEAD OF
CONVENIENCE, SAYS AMA
Reproductive health and
safety must be prioritised
across the health system,
the AMA told a Senate
inquiry into universal access
to reproductive healthcare.
In February, AMA Vice
President, Dr Danielle
McMullen, told a hearing
of the Senate Standing
Committee on Community
Affairs that the AMA
advocates for safe,
accessible and affordable
reproductive health services
throughout Australia,
especially rural and
remote areas.
“Importantly, provision
of and access to services
should be timely, culturally
safe, equitable, and
affordable,” she said.
“Equity of access for all
people seeking services
is critical. We can and
should improve access to
reproductive healthcare
in Australia.
“However, we must be
careful not to confuse
convenience with access
because the most
convenient option is not
always the safest option,”
Dr McMullen said.
The AMA submission to
the committee focuses on
contraception, abortion,
collaborative models of
reproductive healthcare,
health literacy and equity
of access to reproductive
health services.
The AMA’s submission
made the following points:
» There should be equity
of access across
Australia to appropriate
abortion services, which
should involve a multidisciplinary team under
the leadership of a
doctor. All people should
have access to legal
and safe abortion and
counselling services.
» The central Queensland
maternity crisis had
shone a light on the
parlous state of birthing
access services not
just in Queensland
but across Australia.
The AMA is concerned
about a growing trend in
remote and rural areas
where obstetricians,
GP obstetricians and
rural generalists with
accredited advanced
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obstetrics skills are being
relegated to secondary
positions within maternity
care teams or excluded
in favour of midwiferyled care.
» It is disappointing
that pregnancy care is
restricted to top-level
private health cover. The
AMA calls for pregnancy
cover to be included in
Bronze and Silver policies
and upwards, matching
it to cover of other
reproductive policies.
» Doctors have a right
to refuse to provide or
participate in certain
medical treatments or
procedures based on a
conscientious objection.
However, a doctor should
always provide medically
appropriate treatment in
an emergency even it that
treatment conflicts with
their personal beliefs.
» It does not support oral
contraceptives being
prescribed in community
pharmacies, a position
also taken by the
independent regulator
of medicines in Australia,
the Therapeutic Goods
Administration.
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