Prime Minister fails to grasp MRI issue but offers a glimmer of hope to WA kids

14/3/02
Health Minister Bob Kucera said Prime Minister John Howard had failed to recognise the unique position confronting children requiring MRI scans when asked about the issue on talkback radio this morning.
Mr Howard told Radio 6PR there were five MRI units within a five-kilometre radius of Princess Margaret Hospital and the Federal Government had to 'strike a balance in relation to the adequate provision of the services'.
Mr Kucera said the Federal Government allocated licences and children should not be penalised if errors had been made in the way allocations were made.
He said children's hospitals in the Eastern States had access to Medicare-licensed MRI machines and there was no justification for children in States like WA to be penalised by a flawed system of allocation.
The State Government had offered to purchase the $2million machine if the Federal Government granted a Medicare licence to run it.
"We want a fair deal from the Federal Government, whose MRI policies have put the interests of private MRI operators ahead of the public health system," the Minister said.
"What is Medicare for if it is not to support the public health system of Australia?"
Mr Kucera said he was pleased the Prime Minister told 6PR listeners that he would raise the issue again with Federal Health Minister Kay Patterson.
The MRI Monitoring and Evaluation Group is due to meet next Wednesday, March 20, and is expected to reconsider the granting of a Medicare licence for an MRI at PMH.
Mr Kucera called on the Prime Minister to do the right thing by Western Australian children and back the push for a positive outcome from that meeting.
Minister's office: 9213 7000