GPs going broke forced to scrap bulk-billing

One of Sydney's busiest and most vital medical practices has scrapped bulk billing, claiming the government rebate is so poor it's going broke.

Redfern Station Medical Centre, which cares for some of the inner city's most vulnerable, said the $39 it gets back through Medicare is not enough.

"I've worked in Redfern for 25 years and this is the first time I've ever had to justify to a person why they have to pay," RSMC Doctor Marie Healey said.

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"I feel greedy and mean saying it - just awful, but I've already been at a practice that's closed because of the poor funding of General Practice."

Doctors say a plumber on average gets $85 in the hand for a 15 minute consult.

Dr Kean-Seng Lim said the Mt Druitt Medical Centre bulk-billed half of its patients and it was a balancing act to afford the best of medical equipment.

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"The problem is Medicare rebates have not been indexed at the same rate inflation has been going up - it should be double what it is now," Dr Lim said.

"If you don't invest in health at the beginning, then you don't get good health outcomes down the track."