VICDOC Autumn 2025 - Magazine - Page 51
better directed toward general practice,
ensuring higher quality patient care
and reduced hospital admissions.
INCLUSION OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
AND MS-2 STEP IN THE PBS PRESCRIBER BAG
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AMAV has written to the
Commonwealth Department of Health
in support of including emergency
contraception and MS-2 Step in the PBS
prescriber bag as part of the Australian
Government’s PBS post-market review.
This follows AMAV’s earlier Victorian
advocacy on expanding doctors’ bags
to improve timely access to essential
treatments, particularly in rural and
regional areas.
NON-EMERGENCY PATIENT TRANSPORT
-
AMAV has consistently advocated
for better access to Non-Emergency
Patient Transport (NEPT) services,
highlighting the longstanding
challenges faced by patients requiring
transport to essential treatments
such as dialysis and radiotherapy.
The Victorian Government has recently
announced steps to improve NEPT
services, a long-overdue response to
persistent concerns. AMAV welcomes
these reforms as a positive move
toward ensuring more equitable and
timely transport options for patients
across the state.
ENGAGEMENT WITH MINISTER STITT
RURAL GP WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
-
Rural hospitals across Victoria are
increasingly facing challenges in
retaining on-call GPs, leading to
concerns about workforce sustainability
and service delivery. AMAV has heard
from members, including at the
August Regional and Rural Clinician
Forum, about the significant impact
of recent system changes, such as
the introduction of the VVED, which,
despite its benefits, has contributed
to the erosion of on-call rosters.
Members have reported a decline in
training opportunities for registrars
and growing difficulties in maintaining
rural generalist training accreditation.
AMAV has raised these concerns with
the Department of Health, seeking
assurances that these issues are being
recognised and that strategies are
being developed to support recruitment
and retention in rural general practice.
-
In December, AMAV met with Minister
for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt MP to
discuss the Victorian Government’s
revised mental health reform
agenda. The Minister reaffirmed
the Government’s commitment to
implementing all Royal Commission
recommendations, with a particular
focus on preventative care, workforce
wellbeing, and realistic implementation
timelines. AMAV raised concerns
regarding funding sustainability and
the need for greater transparency in
the allocation of the Mental Health
and Wellbeing Levy. Additionally,
discussions covered the upcoming pill
testing trial, which AMAV supports
as a key harm-reduction initiative.
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