More than 1600 delegates attended the Royal Australian College of GPs annual get-together in Perth last week, with artificial intelligence, doctor burn-out and vaping high on the agenda.
At the opening, RACGP WA chair Dr Ramya Raman told the conference there was no other job she would want to do than to be a GP.
“This conference is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather as a community of dedicated general practitioners, practice teams and health care professionals to learn, collaborate and celebrate the vital work that we do every day,” she said.
“While much of which is not acknowledged, what I have learnt over the last few years is that it is acknowledged by our patients and the community we serve, and that’s something we should be proud of.
“However, as we look ahead, it’s important to look at the challenges we face in general practice.”
Outgoing RACGP national chair Dr Nicole Higgins, who was given a standing ovation in her departing address, said there had been debate in the health sector in recent years as Australia faced significant challenges because of the complex and ageing population, with GPs playing a critical role.
“As they say, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, and the RACGP is not only at the table, but we’re also deciding what to do,” she said.
“And we’re changing the narrative, moving from GPs being in crisis to saying GPs are the solution.”
Dr Higgins said recent wins included the tripling of the bulk bulling incentive, 60-day dispensing and abolishing payroll tax on general practice.
She said the conference theme of reimagining health care was to explore the future of general practice in Australia and the new technologies that would shape how GPs worked.
GPs across Australia were increasingly using technologies including AI to get better health outcomes for their patients and improve their own efficiencies.
Meanwhile, the health impacts of climate change, vaping and racism were among the topics covered in the fourth edition of preventive healthcare guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which was launched at the conference.
Dr Karen Nicholls, chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, said the guide was aimed at supporting and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.
“We know that high-quality culturally and clinically safe preventive care improves health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” she said.
“Government data shows almost two-thirds of the fatal burden of disease for those aged under 75 are deaths that could potentially have been avoided with high-quality culturally and clinically safe preventive healthcare.”
Incoming RACGP national president Dr Michael Wright said the guide would provide critical evidence-based recommendations and advice to help GPs to provide clinically and culturally safe care.
Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson also spoke at the conference.