Abbott goes back to talks on Medicare

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised not to push ahead with any new Medicare co-payment proposals without the support of doctors.

The policy rethink followed a Liberal leadership spill which was defeated 61-39 on Monday.

Following the meeting, Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler called for urgent talks with the government to clarify the future of the unpopular Medicare overhaul which has gone through several changes since being announced in the May 2014 budget.

Mr Abbott said there would be no new co-payment plans without the backing of the medical profession.

"It is important to maintain the support of the medical profession because, let's face it, they have the best interests of their patients at heart," he told reporters in Canberra.

Dr Owler said Mr Abbott's call for closer policy work with doctors was significant, but he must go further.

"The prime minister must ditch the disastrous Medicare co-payment model, the $5 cut to the Medicare patient rebate, and the freeze on Medicare rebate indexation until 2018," he said.

"Coalition members know that these policies are hurting the government at the local level across the country."

Doctors have been gathering at forums across the country to discuss the future of health reform.

"The message from grassroots GPs was clear - the government must scrap its potentially destructive Medicare changes," Dr Owler said.

He said good health policy would restore confidence in the government.

As rumours circulated after the party meeting that the prime minister had axed the Medicare co-payment, Health Minister Sussan Ley said talks were continuing on reform to make health spending sustainable in the long-term.