The Royal Australian College of GPs says a new national multidisciplinary consortium for primary care research is a positive step forward to improve patient care.
The RACGP is a member of the National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium, which involves 100 primary care researchers from 20 universities from across the country.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said: "Every year more than 22 million Australians see a specialist GP for their essential health care, making general practice is the most accessed part of our health system.
"Yet research in general practice is vastly underrepresented and underfunded. General practice receives less than 2% of our national medical research funding.
"We need to fix this. Health research should happen where most people access healthcare – and that's in general practice.
"This new consortium is an important and exciting opportunity to design, test and innovate models of care to better meet the needs of patients across Australia, and I'm proud the RACGP is a member.
"There is more we need to do to support general practice research in Australia.
"The RACGP is calling for all political parties to commit to funding a national practice-based research network, like they have in Canada and the United Kingdom.
"These networks have proven to be immensely valuable overseas. The Canadian network produces evidence that improves patient care for a range of the country's major health issues, including chronic illness, ageing, and addiction.
"We're also calling for funding to test how multidisciplinary practice teams work at full scope in Australia, in order to improve access to care for patients.
"Most practices in Australia provide multidisciplinary care, with specialist GPs, practice nurses, and allied health professionals working together for patients.
"We know people get the best outcomes when their GP works together with their other specialists, and health professionals, and it's especially valuable for people with chronic and complex illnesses.
"If these initiatives are funded, it will not only improve access to care, and health service delivery, it will result in healthier patients and communities, save health care costs, and reduce pressure on hospitals and emergency departments."
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