Health Fund clinics in bid to expand

The ADA (NSW Branch) is intensifying its bid to prevent the further expansion of health fund dental clinics throughout the state.

At present, the NSW Dental Board is assessing applications from HCF and the Government Employees Health Fund to establish additional dental clinics in the western Sydney suburb of Parramatta, says President of the ADA (NSW Branch), Dr John Lockwood.

Last year, the NIB, a local area health fund, applied to set up a dental clinic in Newcastle. The Board rejected the application and the NIB lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court.

"Our members in private practice can't compete with the fees charged by these clinics," says Dr Lockwood.

Also, the tax concessions available to big businesses would allow these clinics to unfairly comp~te with the average private practitioner, he says.

At present, the Government Employees Health Fund operates clinics in Sydney and in Wagga; HCF has a clinic in Sydney and the Western District Health Fund has a clinic in Lithgow.

The basic charter of these groups is to provide medical insurance, not to, provide health care services, says Dr Lockwood. "Some would say that it is a conflict of interest," he adds.

The ADA (NSW Branch) has reaffirmed it's "opposition to health fund or other commercial clinics" and will continue to lobby for the rejection of any application for further clinics.