GP co-payments counterproductive: study

The introduction of GP co-payments will not only hit the needy, but fail to provide budget savings, research commissioned by a consumers health group has found.

The Consumers Health Forum says co-payments could be counter-productive, leading to higher costs because people delay seeking treatment.

The co-payments would see more people seeking care at hospital emergency departments, and compound existing disadvantage, the report written by health policy analyst Jennifer Doggett says.

Co-payments would hit the needy but fail to deliver an overall economic benefit, head of the forum Adam Stankevicius said.

"If a fee is introduced, evidence from Australia and overseas indicates it will keep some people away but is unlikely to reduce the overall cost of health care because unattended sick patients then end up in hospital," Mr Stankevicius said in a statement.

Co-payments of up to $6 have been flagged as one way to tackle spiralling health spending, as the government grapples with the budget deficit.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has downplayed concerns the coalition may introduce the GP co-payments, but Health Minister Peter Dutton has questioned whether the better off should contribute to their own health costs.