They visited the Castle Medical Centre, learned about its actual operations from the clinic’s management, and conducted on-site media interviews. The visiting media included Skynews, SBSnews, 10news, Australian Chinese News, and Adelaide Eye Media.
Starting from November 1, the Bulk Billing incentive measures for General Practitioners (GPs) have been implemented, providing more concessions for Australian seniors and young people when seeing a doctor.
General practitioners offering bulk billing to concession cardholders and pension recipients will receive a subsidy three times higher. The standard rate in metropolitan areas will increase from AUD 6.85 to AUD 20.65, and in remote areas, it will increase from AUD 13.15 to AUD 39.65. This alleviates living expenses for millions of Australians.
This significant investment, equivalent to AUD 3.5 billion over five years, marks the beginning of improving the sustainability of general practice in Australia. It is also part of a series of major initiatives in the federal budget aimed at reforming and supporting general practice.
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler and Labor Federal Member Louise Miller-Frost conducted a thorough inspection of the clinic to gain a deeper understanding of its operations.
Dr. Wu, the director of the clinic, introduced them to the various facilities and services it offers. The clinic has a blood testing laboratory and a specialized skin tumor center. In addition, the clinic provides general practitioner consultations and traditional Chinese medicine services, with plans to introduce additional services such as dental and specialist consultations in the future.
Dr. Wu emphasized the challenges the clinic faces due to rising operational costs and various expenditures. Despite these difficulties, the clinic remains dedicated to providing high-quality services to the community, ensuring patients receive quality medical care.
