AMA President reflects on two years of healthcare advocacy
23 Oct 2026
In her final update as Federal President, Dr Danielle McMullen reflected on two years of advocacy by the Australian Medical Association (AMA), recognising key achievements while stressing that more work is needed to address ongoing healthcare challenges.
The AMA’s Modernise Medicare campaign helped secure a record increase in funding for general practice. However, Dr McMullen said further structural changes were still needed to ensure patients could access appropriate care.
The Clear the Hospital Logjam campaign also helped build support for a $25 billion increase in public hospital funding through the National Health Reform Agreement. Despite this investment, hospitals continue to face significant pressure, with further reform required.
The AMA also secured progress on workforce support, including salary incentives for GP registrars and paid parental and study leave.
In women’s health, advocacy helped expand Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) support for contraception and treatments for menopause.
Other developments included the establishment of the Australian Centre for Disease Control, a new scheme for wound-care consumables and the planned return of the three-year-old child health check to the MBS.
Dr McMullen said these changes showed the value of sustained advocacy, but warned that Australia’s health system still faced challenges linked to years of underinvestment. She called for continued efforts to support doctors delivering complex care and improve the way services are funded and provided.
She also raised concerns about pressure for fast, fragmented care and the risk of blaming doctors for problems caused by wider system pressures.
Dr McMullen thanked AMA members, council and committee representatives, staff and Vice President Dr Julian Rait for their support during her presidency.
She expressed confidence in the organisation’s future under incoming leaders Dr Michael Bonning and Dr Sarah Whitelaw, encouraging the AMA to maintain its focus on doctors, patient safety and quality healthcare.
AMA President reflects on two years of healthcare advocacy
Source: Australian Medical Association (AMA), final update from Federal President Dr Danielle McMullen.