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New data sheds further light on Medicare's gender bias

Royal Australian College of GPs

The RACGP’s 2026 Health of the Nation report has shone a light on the structural gender bias and misogyny embedded in Australia’s Medicare system, revealing significant differences in the experiences of female and male GPs and the patients they care for.

The report found female GPs are disproportionately providing longer consultations and caring for patients with more complex psychosocial, mental health, women’s health, and preventive care needs, yet the Medicare system continues to inadequately recognise and reward this work.

And for the first time since the survey began, female GP job satisfaction was found to be lower than male GP job satisfaction.

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the findings demonstrate the need for urgent reform.

“Female GPs are playing a critical role delivering complex care across our health system, particularly in mental health, preventive healthcare and women’s health, but the Medicare system has not kept pace with the reality of modern general practice,” he said.

“This year’s Health of the Nation data highlights ongoing and problematic gender bias in primary healthcare funding and delivery.

“The current system disadvantages female GPs for providing the longer, complex consultations that are essential for good patient outcomes – that must change.”

The report found 71% of female GPs ranked psychological issues among their top three reasons for patient presentations, compared to 58% of male GPs.

Female GPs were also significantly more likely to play an important role in meeting demand for mental health care, with more than half identifying this as a key priority area, compared to just one-in-three male GPs. Meanwhile, male GPs were more likely to see patients for musculoskeletal, respiratory, ear, nose and throat, and circulatory-related conditions.

This difference contributes to female GPs spending more time with their patients, averaging 21 minutes per consultation, compared to 18 minutes for male GPs.

“When a GP spends more time addressing mental health concerns, preventive healthcare needs, family violence issues, reproductive health matters, or other complex presentations, that care delivers enormous value for patients, the community, and the broader health system,” Dr Wright said.

“However, longer consultations often come with financial penalties that disproportionately affect the doctors providing them and the patients who need them.

“Analysis by Ochre Health has revealed a gender pay gap in general practice, with male GPs earning 6.5% more per consulting hour than their female colleagues. Put another way, for every dollar earned by a male GP, a female GP earns just 93.5 cents, highlighting the ongoing need to address inequities within the profession.”

“The Federal Government has begun taking important steps to address gender inequities in healthcare, including moves to better align rebates for contraceptive procedures such as IUD insertions with rebates available for vasectomies.

“That progress is welcome, but the fundamental issue remains. Female GPs are spending longer with patients providing complex care, and Medicare still does not adequately reflect that reality.

While the report found job satisfaction and work-life balance improved among GPs overall, female GPs continued to experience poorer wellbeing outcomes than their male colleagues.

Dr Wright explained that female GPs were less likely to report a good work-life balance (55% compared with 57%) and more likely to experience burnout, with 65% reporting feelings of burnout during the previous 12 months, compared to 53% of male GPs.

“These findings should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers,” Dr Wright said.

“The consequences extend beyond the medical workforce. When the work traditionally undertaken by women is undervalued, patients ultimately miss out.

“Patients deserve a healthcare system that values the care they need, and doctors deserve a funding model that properly recognises the work they do.

“Addressing structural gender bias in Medicare is not just an issue of fairness. It is essential to improving access to care, supporting the GP workforce and delivering better health outcomes for women and for all Australians.”

~ENDS

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the voice of general practitioners (GPs) in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, we’ve supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

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