Australian Medical Association

For almost two decades, the AMA's Public Hospital Report Card has tracked the health of our public hospital system, and in the past four years, dedicated mental health editions of the report have highlighted the unique challenges patients face when accessing mental healthcare in public hospitals. This year’s mental health edition paints a stark picture: Australia’s mental health system is at breaking point, and the consequences are being felt in emergency departments and communities across Australia. Read AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen's piece in the Medical Journal of Australia's Insight+ https://lnkd.in/ggc6m95G

Australia stands at a critical juncture in its immunisation trajectory. Once a global leader in vaccine coverage, the nation is now seeing sustained declines across childhood, adolescent, and adult programs, with serious implications for public health, health-system capacity, and economic productivity.   Sustained, targeted action now is essential to protect Australians from vaccine-preventable diseases, strengthen health system resilience, and ensure equitable, lifelong access to vaccination.   Today, the AMA releases a new report — From coverage to concern: a policy analysis of Australia’s immunisation decline — and calls for immediate action to combat vaccine hesitancy and reverse declining immunisation rates across the country.   Read the attached preview, or find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g9SHU6Px

Congratulations to AMA member Dr Haseeb Riaz for being named WA's Young Australian of the Year. 👏   This terrific achievement is in recognition for Dr Riaz's role in educating thousands of students on the root causes of poor mental health and gender-based violence.   Co-founded by Dr Riaz and Gareth Shanthikumar, Man Up is an educational service challenging negative stereotypes of masculinity and helping young men communicate openly and build pathways to healthier lives.   Read more about Dr Riaz via Australian Medical Association (WA) 👇   https://lnkd.in/gfXmgx-p

Today is World AIDS Day. This year’s theme – ‘No one left behind’ – is a reminder that progress on HIV only matters if it reaches everyone. Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to people: 👉 protecting themselves 👉 getting tested 👉 starting treatment 👉 staying connected to care. It affects early diagnosis, mental health and overall wellbeing. Here in Australia, while we’ve made huge strides, some communities still experience poorer access to information, services and support – including First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people living in regional and remote areas. Australia’s Ninth National HIV Strategy (2024–2030) sets out how governments, communities, clinicians and advocates will work together towards the virtual elimination of HIV transmission by 2030. Today is a moment to recommit to creating supportive, stigma-free environments where everyone living with HIV can thrive. 👉 Share this message and help keep the momentum going. For more information, visit 💻 https://lnkd.in/gCpsZyTh #WorldAIDSDay2025 #NoOneLeftBehind #EndHIVStigma #HealthProfessionals   

🙏 Thank You As Rural Health Month ends, the federal AMA thanks all doctors who shared their experiences in the 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey. Your voices shape the future of rural healthcare and guide the reforms needed to support every community. #RuralHealthMonth #AMA #RuralHealth #HealthEquity #MedicalWorkforce

As Rural Health Month comes to a close, the federal Australian Medical Association would like to thank the many doctors who shared their experiences through our 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey. Over the past week, we’ve highlighted the voices of: 🌍 international medical graduates 🩺 specialist general practitioners and rural generalists ⚕️ non-GP specialists 🎓 doctors in training. Together, their insights reveal the realities of rural practice — workforce shortages, training pathways, professional isolation, and resource limitations — and the policy priorities needed to address them. The survey findings provide a clear, evidence-based foundation for advocacy and reform. They remind us that to strengthen rural healthcare governments need to listen to practitioners and tailor solutions to their unique challenges. We are committed to building a sustainable, supported workforce that ensures every Australian — no matter where they live — has access to quality healthcare. 🙏 Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. Let’s continue working together to deliver equity in health for rural and remote communities. #RuralHealthMonth #AMA #RuralHealth #HealthEquity #MedicalWorkforce

Private health insurance claims for patients waiting to be discharged to aged care have doubled. Some are costing up to $700,000 for a single hospital stay — this is the devastating financial impact of exit block on our health system.    Every day these patients remain in hospital costs thousands while denying beds to those who urgently need them. Meanwhile, ambulances queue outside, and emergency departments overflow.   This is not sustainable. We need immediate action to Clear the Hospital Logjam — proper funding and solutions to the exit block that is contributing to a permanent gridlock in hospitals.

🎓 Sharing practitioner experiences: Doctors in training Doctors in training are the future of rural healthcare. Insights from the federal AMA’s 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey reveal the barriers they face — and the opportunities to build pathways that inspire and retain the next generation of rural doctors. #RuralHealthMonth #AMA #DoctorsInTraining #MedicalWorkforce

⚕️Sharing practitioner experiences: Non-GP Specialists Non-GP specialists are vital to rural communities, yet they often face resource limitations and professional isolation. Insights from the federal AMA’s 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey highlight their experiences and the reforms needed to strengthen specialist care in rural or remote areas. #RuralHealthMonth #AMA #SpecialistCare #RuralHealth

After years of advocacy, Parliament will finally debate protections against genetic discrimination in life insurance. This is a win for patients and medical research. Too many Australians have avoided potentially life-saving genetic testing because they feared it would affect their life insurance. Studies show this fear was justified — genetic information has been used to discriminate against people seeking coverage. The Treasury Laws Amendment Bill will ensure people can undertake genetic testing, including for cancer risk and other conditions, without worrying it will impact their ability to get life insurance or the terms of their cover. Genetic and genomic testing has the capacity to transform healthcare in Australia. These protections are essential to ensure all Australians can benefit from these medical advances without fear of discrimination.