The number of bulk-billing GP practices in the ACT has risen to 24, with the opening of a new clinic in Gungahlin. Photo: PMO.
A new bulk-billing GP clinic has officially opened in Gungahlin, with a second site to open soon.
The new Infinity Medical Centre Gungahlin site at Unit 1/61 Anthony Rolfe Avenue opened this week, with the second Gungahlin site to be announced in the coming weeks.
The two sites are part of a commitment from the Federal Government to deliver further free healthcare to the ACT and are in addition to two bulk-billing clinics that opened in Tuggeranong and Woden in June.
The new clinics bring the number of bulk-billing practices in the ACT to 24.
Minister for Health Mark Butler said the ACT had had issues with accessibility to bulk-billing for some time and the opening of the new clinics would begin to rectify them.
“Fully bulk-billing clinics are helping people in the ACT to get easier access to high‑quality free health care,” he said.
“Canberra has had issues with GP availability for a long time, but seeing a doctor early when you have a health issue is so important to prevent it from becoming worse.
“If someone in your family is sick and needs medical care, you don’t want to have to wait or be concerned about the cost.
“Having these new GP bulk-billing clinics will help make seeing a doctor cheaper and more accessible for many Canberrans.”
ACT Senator Katy Gallagher said bulk billing was one of the key focuses of the Federal Government for the ACT.
“This new clinic in Gungahlin, along with the fully bulk-billing clinics recently opened in Woden and Tuggeranong, will give more families access to free, high-quality primary health care,” she said.
“These new clinics are funded by the Federal Government and help attract more GPs to the ACT and give residents better access to primary healthcare services.”
Member for Fenner Andrew Leigh said the rise in the number of bulk-billing clinics was allowing for faster and more affordable services for local patients.
“Nobody should put off seeing a GP because they’re worried about the bill. As the local member, I’m delighted to see a fully bulk-billing service in the Gungahlin town centre,” he said.
“When Labor came to office, my electorate had just two fully bulk-billing GP clinics. With this new clinic, there are now seven.
“Every new fully bulk-billing clinic means more people can get treatment when they need it, instead of waiting until a small problem becomes a big one.”
Original Article published by Jarryd Rowley on Region Canberra.
