The newly elected Australian Medical Association president says the country's health system is ailing and doctors' patience with Health Minister Greg Hunt is "wearing thin".
Melbourne GP Tony Bartone was elected AMA president on Sunday, replacing Dr Michael Gannon who has served in the role for two years.
In a speech to the AMA National Conference in Canberra, Dr Bartone painted a bleak picture of the health system and said it was up to the association to improve it.
Dr Tony Bartone is the new president of the Australian Medical Association. Source: AAP
Dr Bartone said public hospital waiting lists were growing and health insurance slipping further out of reach, singling out the federal health minister.
"Our health minister needs to understand that the time for rhetoric is over, our patience is wearing thin, we need to see crucial positive actions now," he said.
"Australians have a right to quality healthcare, and it is up to us - as the AMA - to defend our world-class health system, but our health system is ailing."
Dr Bartone, who had been serving as the federal vice president, singled out the state of general practice in Australia, saying the sector had been "systematically starved of funding".
Dr Bartone beat immunologist Professor Brad Frankum and Brisbane obstetrician Dr Gino Pecoraro at a vote in Canberra on Sunday.
Mr Hunt said he looked forward to working with Dr Bartone to achieve better health outcomes for patients and doctors.
Labor's health spokeswoman Catherine King said the party had worked well with the new president when he was vice president and head of the Victorian AMA.
"We welcome Dr Bartone's initial comments that he intends to send a message to Health Minister Greg Hunt that the time for rhetoric is over and the time for real action on health care and general practice has arrived," she said.
Dr Gannon congratulated his successor and said his loyal vice president will now get his chance to shine
"I'm proud of you mate," he tweeted.
Dr Bartone's deputy will be Brisbane thoracic physician Dr Chris Zappala.
