WESTERN suburbs patients could face longer waiting times and miss early diagnosis of severe health problems due to a shortage of magnetic resonance imaging machines.
Of the 28 Medicare-funded MRI machines in the state, only two are in the western suburbs: one each at
Western Health's Sunshine and Western hospitals.
There is one Medicare-funded MRI machine in Health Minister Nicola Roxon's Gellibrand electorate.
Capital Radiology recently installed two MRI machines - each worth up to $2million fully installed - at Footscray and Niddrie clinics to meet increasing demand from GPs.
Executive director Dominik Kucera said the company had approached the federal government about 18months ago about licences, but there had been no answer on approval for Medicare rebates and bulk billing for both machines.
"The average Medicare rebate for an MRI service is around $425, but a patient may have to pay a significant out-of-pocket expense even if the MRI is Medicare-funded. The alternative is to seek a non-funded MRI, which may put the patient no more out-of-pocket in the long run and may be quicker," Mr Kucera said.
He said patients who baulked at the cost could be putting their health at risk.
"We know the socio-demographic mix in the west. We know people are struggling and find it difficult to pay gap fees. Patients could be playing Russian roulette with their health."
Altona GP Mukesh Haikerwal said Melbourne's west was a "desert" when it came to MRI machines.
He said part of the problem was the federal government's reluctance to fund MRIs in the wake of the "scan scam".
In the late 1990s, radiologists were tipped off that fees would be introduced for MRI machines provided they were bought prior to a cut-off date in 1999.
Radiologists rushed to buy MRI machines close to the cut-off date and the ensuing outcry led to a freeze on licences for new machines.
Under existing rules, a patient is first referred to a specialist, who may have a waiting list for an MRI.
Dr Haikerwal said GPs should be allowed to refer patients for an MRI. The Australian Medical Association of Victoria has put that recommendation to the federal government.
AMA Victoria president Harry Hemley said Medicare arrangements failed to recognise the important advances in technology that could help improve the care and safety provided to patients through general practice.
‘‘It’s important that patients have timely access to appropriate imaging services so that conditions can be promptly diagnosed and managed.’’
A federal government review of funding of diagnostic imaging is looking at restrictions around Medicare-funded machines. Submissions closed in April this year. A submission by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists said MRI licensing hindered appropriate use of MRI. It stated that Australia has ‘‘one of the lowest levels of access to MRI amongst OECD countries with 5.7 licensed units per million in 2009’’.
Western Health public affairs and corporate communications director Paul Roth said in a written statement: ‘‘Waiting times vary depending on the age of the patient and the type of scan required. However the health and well-being of our patients is always our primary concern and urgent in-patients are always scanned as soon as possible. Generally speaking, adult outpatient MRI services are available within one to two weeks.’’
The federal government announced in 2004 it would fund 23 Medicare-rebateable machines across Australia.
The then Labor health spokeswoman, Julia Gillard, said the western suburbs was an area that needed Medicare-funded machines.
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