THE Federal Government has committed $664 million for 50 new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics throughout Australia by mid-2026 if it is re-elected.
The commitment builds on the existing 87 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, many of which include pharmacies, allowing a one-stop-shop for medical care needs.
It will result in an estimated 80% of Australians living within 20 minutes of a clinic.
However, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has warned the new urgent care clinics will not solve Australia's patient care challenges, and has raised concerns about how they will be properly staffed.
RACGP President, Dr Michael Wright, questioned whether the clinics are the answer to improving patient care across Australia, and called for the funding of existing general practices to expand their current services, including for more after-hours services.
"We are now seeing more than $1 billion will be spent on setting up these clinics, and we still have no sign of an evaluation to show whether they are providing value for money, or helping people keep away from hospital," he said.
"Spending millions setting up new clinics is not value for taxpayers' money," he said.
Dr Wright cited reports that each visit to an urgent care clinic costs around $200, and while cheaper than a visit to a hospital emergency department, it is far more expensive than a GP visit.
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