The President of the Australian Medical Association Northern Territory today predicted a crisis in the NT health system because of failure of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment to raise the pay rates of key doctors in the Territory to the market rates in the rest of Australia.

"It used to be that we could attract doctors at low market rates because of the lifestyle offeredhere. But that won't work any more." Dr Beaumont said.

"We are already seriously short of doctors in remote areas and specialists are regularly leaving our public hospitals because pay rates are much lower than other states. What will it be like in 5 years?"

The AMA calls on the Chief Minister to intervene and release more funds to pay appropriate
rates so we can have adequate numbers of quality doctors to be able to properly care for the people. "There seems to be plenty of money available for populist programs, but nothing to ensure we have enough good doctors" Dr Beaumont said.

"We note that the federal government has established a multi million dollar Future Fund for
health. What we need here is a "Present Fund", enough money to make our Territory
competitive."

AMA analysis of new pay packages offered to specialists shows the Northern Territory will be the second lowest in Australia with the Queensland salaries being up to 54% higher and NSW and SA about one third higher.