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General practice corporatisation: the half-time score

Paul D Fitzgerald
Med J Aust 2002; 177 (2): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04676.x
Published online: 15 July 2002

Since 1998, listed public corporations have actively sought to capture a significant proportion of the Australian general practice market. They have paid generously for the "goodwill" of existing practices, entered limited contracts with the doctors in those practices, and relocated some of these doctors to large centres where general practice is linked directly with other diagnostic, imaging and treatment services owned by the corporation.


  • North Sydney, NSW.


Correspondence: docfitz@ihug.com.au

Competing interests:

I am a principal in a general medical practice. I am also a consultant public health physician. Recent clients include the Australian Health Management Group, the Australian Health Insurance Association and the School of Public Policy of the University of Singapore. I am a non-executive Director of the Australian Medical Cooperative Limited, and a Director of Salvere Pty Ltd, a provider of employee assistance programs.

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