Many people would be bemused by the call from Dr Jeremy Sammut of the think tank - Centre for Independent studies - to scrap bulk billing and make all patients either buy medical insurance or pay for visits out of their own pockets.
Dr Sammut contends that bulk billing ensures that those with the greatest medical needs queue at the emergency department of hospitals - while those with minor ailments get free or highly subsidized services or GP visits on demand.
Reality is just the opposite. If it wasn't for bulk billing the vast number of low income people who are serviced by their local doctor would be forced to rely on their hospital emergency department for medical treatment.
In fact, the long waits at emergency departments are often caused by a lack of local doctors offering bulk billing - and the government is encouraging new clinics to take up the slack and bulk bill to relieve pressure on hospitals.
This call to end bulk billing flies in the face of the original concept of Medicare - which was to provide medical services to all citizens. Those who can afford it were encouraged to take out private insurance - but free emergency rooms in hospitals and doctors who provide bulk billing consultations ensure that all have access to medical treatment when that is needed.
To ban bulk billing would be to return to the dark ages of a distant past !
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