When it comes to visiting a GP, most people have a preference over the gender of the doctor they wish to see. In many cases, women prefer a female health professionals, while men may opt to see someone of the same sex.
A medical clinic in Victoria is now under fire after allegedly charging patients more to visit a female GP. According to a post shared on Twitter, the Myhealth centre at North Eltham in Melbourne’s northeast posted a sign on its door, advising customers of the price options available. A standard female consultation cost $82 or a $44.95 gap fee on top of Medicare. An extended female consultation cost $117 or a $45.30 gap fee.
Meanwhile, the price was significantly lower to visit a male GP. A standard consultation was listed as $75 ($37.95 gap) or $110 ($38.30 gap) for an extended consultation. This means it costs $7 more to visit a female.
Myhealth at North Etham issued a statement on its website on Thursday afternoon, explaining why this was the case.
“At Myhealth North Etham, our priority is to provide the best medical care to all patients,” it read. “Each individual doctor sets their own consultation fees and standard appointment duration. The difference in consultation fees reflects the difference in the time allocated for a standard consultation with the doctor irrespective of patient profile.”
Maebe Marsden, who shared the image of the sign on Twitter, questioned how legal it was for patients to be charged more to visit a female doctor.
This is so fucked. My friend @TheMilkeWay goes to Eltham North Clinic in #Victoria and they’ve just instituted extra fees for female doctors because “women’s issues take longer.” Surely this is illegal? pic.twitter.com/Vwm0aafM1z
— Maeve Marsden (@maevemarsden) May 23, 2018
“This is so f***ed,” she wrote. “My friend @TheMilkeWay goes to Eltham and North Clinic in #Victoria and they’ve just instituted extra fees for female doctors because ‘women’s issues take longer.’ Surely this is illegal?”
A Spokesperson for Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told Starts at 60 the matter had been raised with Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner for an urgent investigation.
“The Minister is deeply concerned,” the spokesperson said. “Not only is this practice offensive, it is potentially discriminatory. The Minister has referred the matter to Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner for an urgent investigation.”
The image has caused debate online, with people seeing both sides of the argument. One Twitter user wrote: “I don’t think this is the scandal you think it is. I’d pay more to see a female colleague knowing they get ~30% less take home pay than their male counterparts. On top of fewer opportunities, and institutional / societal sexism”.
Another said: “All doctors are allowed to charge a fee they feel appropriate. Most female doctors are ‘in demand’ from patients, but historically have been reluctant to charge appropriately. With decreased rebate – this is inevitable”.
A third comment read: “It’s basically a gender tax & it’s discrimination. They’re reducing access to healthcare by increasing the price based on the gender of the physician. I’d contact the medical licensing board about this, and/or make a human rights complaint”.
It’s not the first time GP prices have made headlines in recent times. Last month, it was reported that some GPs were providing patients with shorter consultations and refusing to deal with more than one problem per visit. It was believed a 55-cent rise on the Medicare levy, set to be introduced in July, wasn’t enough to help GPs make ends meet.
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