NT: Find alt to co-pay
July 9, 2014
THE NT Council of Social
Service Cost of Living Report No
4 Health has recommended the
NT government work with Federal
Government to find alternatives
to the proposed increases in
user charges for health services,
including medicines (PD 14 May).
The report said health costs were
rising faster than the CPI, driven by
rising medical, dental and hospital
costs (but not pharmaceutical
prices which were rising at “well
below” the general CPI rate.)
NT Treasurer Dave Tollner said
the report showed the number of
people deferring visiting a GP due
to cost had “fallen dramatically”
under the present government.
It referenced the Productivity
Commission’s Report on
Government Services, which
showed the percentage of people
in NT deferring purchase of
medicines due to cost fell from 11%
to 8.9% from 2011-12 to 2012-13;
deferral of GP visits dropped in the
NT from 12.2% to 5%, but this had
been 14.8% in 2010-11, it said.
NT Shadow Minister for Health
Nicole Manison said the report
confirmed the cost of living was too
high in the territory and impacted
those needing health care.
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