Indigenous Aussies 'need better access to health care'

The Australian Medical Association has released its annual Indigenous Health report card.

Among the recommendations are calls for the establishment of networked health centres, routine bulk-billing in Indigenous communities and specialised education for trainee doctors.

AMA Vice President and Chair of the AMA Indigenous Health Taskforce, Dr Steve Hambleton said the gap in life expectancy would not close unless all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have full access to high quality primary health care.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples do not currently have a level of access to health care that matches their greater need," he said.

"They experience a range of barriers in accessing the appropriate care in a timely way.

"Any reform of Australia's primary health care system must place a greater priority on improving access to the right model of care in the right place at the right time for Indigenous Australians,” Dr Hambleton said.

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, announced the results of AMA's report - the ninth since 2002.

Dr Hambleton says it's important to focus on the progress that's being made in Indigenous health and not just the shortcomings.

"We actually have put four examples in this report to actually highlight practices that have actually worked very well" he told SBS.

"And one of them which is a shining example is the Health Centre Majellan in Brisbane. Initially there were only 13 aboriginal patients going in to that practice.

"But Noel Hayman actually went and met with the local aboriginal people and tried to find out what were the barriers locally. In fact now he is looking after more 3,000 Aboriginal people," he said.