Advocates that helped save East Devonport Medical Centre in funding call

Health Consumers Tasmania chief executive Bruce Levett said the advocacy organisation's funding needed to be lifted to $700,000 to allow it to continue to shape community health policy.

"Our core funding is $300,000 a year but we can't survive on that funding," he said.

"Our board wrote to the Premier last year to raise that issue, and we're optimistic that the state budget that will be handed down May will address that issue.

"If not, then Health Consumers Tasmania will have to make some tough decisions."

The organisation played a role in encouraging the government to step in to keep open medical centres that were in danger of closing in Devonport, Ouse and Bridgewater.

In East Devonport, Health Minister Guy Barnett in late January announced support would be provided to save the clinic after meeting several times with community members and practice managers.

The government also stepped in last year to keep open a Bridgewater practice after a similar community campaign.

"Vulnerable communities when supported can sit down and think clearly about what services they need ... we've seen that in East Devonport, in Ouse, we've seen it in Bridgewater," Mr Levett said.

"We can actually help facilitate those conversations with the service providers and we can make change in the system, but if you take that voice away, all the decisions will be made in Hobart."

He said he has not yet received a response from the government about the additional funding Health Consumers Tasmania are seeking.

The organisation will use the funds to hire additional staff, to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to advocate on regional Tasmanian health issues, including making submissions to inquiries.

"We call on the state government to continue to fund Health Consumers Tasmania to do this important work around Tasmania."

Mr Levett said numerous challenges still face the state's health system.

"It doesn't matter where you are in rural and remote areas, accessing health care is really hard.

"That's GP services. And the decline is that declining levels of GP services in remote areas is a big concern for us. And that has a flow on effect with the whole health system in regional remote areas.

At a meeting of its members scheduled for tomorrow, he said ensuring access to regional ambulance services, and finding solutions to declining levels of GP services in rural areas were among the top priorities.

A spokesman for Health Minister Guy Barnett said he has met with Health Consumers Tasmania a number of times.

"Their budget submission is currently being considered as part of the 2024-25 State Budget process."