The Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association has announced GP Dr John Saul has been elected AMA Tasmania's new president.
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Dr Saul will take over from outgoing president Dr Helen McArdle who held the position for two years - the maximum allowed by the AMA.
The Lauderdale GP thanked Dr McArdle for her "outstanding leadership" during the COVID-19 pandemic, while welcoming his replacement for vice president, Dr Annette Barratt.
"There is no denying these are incredibly challenging times for all of us working in the health sector," he said
"Following in Helen's indelible footsteps, I am proud to be leading AMA Tasmania alongside my vice president, Dr Annette Barratt."
Born and bred in Tasmania, Dr Saul graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1983. After travelling and working in NSW and Queensland, he returned to the East coast of Tasmania to start his own practice.
"I have always loved general practice, it has been a very gratifying and privileged career for me spanning some 40 years," he said.
"In this role, I am looking forward to working with AMA both at the state and national levels, particularly alongside my general practice colleagues across Australia.
"Together, we will continue to drive system improvements as we emerge from this health crisis and advocate to the government the need to modernise Medicare through reform and the provision of additional funding that will future proof general practice, keeping people healthier and out of the hospital."
Dr Saul said unless significant improvements were made, the future of general practice in Tasmania could not be sustained.
"We know the pandemic has shone a light on the importance of general practice being at the centre of a patient's care. However, it has also shown the inadequacies of the public hospital system and the long-term under-resourcing of general practice," he said.
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