Health network is under threat

Doctors stand up to body

A DAMNING letter signed by more than 70 North Queensland doctors has made concerning allegations of the region’s Primary Health Network’s operations.

Last month, a group of doctors who banded together under the banner of the North Queensland Doctors Guild wrote to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt requesting an investigation into the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, after two GPs had stood down from the organisation’s board.

The doctors’ guild’s primary concern in its letter to Mr Hunt was in relation to a conflict of interest presented by former NQPHN chair and pharmacy owner Nick Loukas’s appointment to a steering committee for the proposed controversial pharmacy pilot trial.

The pilot project is a state government authored trial which would allow pharmacists to diagnose and dispense medication for 23 conditions.

However, Mr Loukas has since stood down from his position as chairman of the NQPHN board.

Despite Mr Loukas’s resignation, the guild in its letter made allegations that the NQPHN had “failed its primary mission to provide better access to improved primary health care services”.

“It has consistently failed to engage with GPs,” the letter stated.

“The NQPHN has made no effort to engage with local GPs at a time when health workforce shortages are leading to burnout and general practice closures.

“Instead, it has been actively progressing proposals that make working in North Queensland an unattractive option for GPs by outsourcing their work to doctors in other regions and to pharmacists.”

Responding to the claims, NQPHN’s newly appointed co-chair Tara Diversi did not directly deny the allegations but said the organisation was aware it needed to engage with its partners and stakeholders.

“This will include focused engagement with GPs as they are critical to the improved delivery of health services across North Queensland,” Ms Diversi said.

Responding to calls for an investigation, a federal Health Department spokesman said as part of the PHN program assurance framework, the department was aiming to commission performance and financial audits of around three PHNs each year.

“The review of the NQPHN is being conducted as part of the PHN program assurance framework and was being planned before receipt of the letter.

“The concerns raised in the letter will be considered as part of the review.”