Once upon a time, seeing your family doctor was simple. You booked an appointment, turned up, handed over your Medicare card and left with your prescription or referral – no dramas, no gap fees. Fast forward to today, and the story looks a little different.
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Health of the Nation 2025 report, the average patient fee for a short consultation has increased from $78 to $82 over the past year. That figure includes the Medicare rebate of $42.85, meaning the average ‘gap fee’ for this consultation is around $39 for a 6 to 20-minute consult.
The report also found that 12 per cent of GPs bulk bill all their patients, while the proportion of Australians delaying GP care due to cost has grown from 7 per cent to 8.8 per cent in just 12 months.
In other words? Patients are paying a larger share of the true cost of their medical visits, as Medicare rebates have not kept up with the cost of providing care, placing greater financial strain on households.
Why it’s tougher to get an appointment
While most of us can technically access a GP, the reality is more complicated. The report found that 99 per cent of people were able to see a GP when they needed to, but 28 per cent reported waiting longer than they felt acceptable for an appointment.
Despite these pressures, patient satisfaction remains strong. More than 94 per cent of people said their GP showed respect, and 91 per cent felt their GP listened carefully.
“GPs are the first point of care for most people in our communities and there’s no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you and your history,” RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said.
“GPs are invaluable to Australia’s healthcare system,” he said. “They saw around 22.6 million patients in the last year for over 172 million health services making them the most commonly accessed health professional in the Australian healthcare system.”
More time, more complexity
Australians aren’t just seeing their GPs more often – their visits are getting longer and more complex. The report found that the average consult length has risen to almost 20 minutes, reflecting an 11 per cent increase since 2022.
“GPs are spending longer with patients than ever,” Dr Wright said. “At the same time, complexity of care is increasing. This is the number one challenge identified by GPs, as we witness growing rates of chronic disease, high rates of mental health presentations and an ageing growing population.”
Indeed, 68 per cent of GPs identified rising complexity as their biggest challenge. Mental health remains the most common reason for visits, with 71 per cent of GPs nominating psychological factors – most commonly anxiety and depression – as top reasons for patient presentations.
Funding pressures and burnout
The report highlights that per person funding for general practice has remained relatively unchanged in the decade up to 2023–24, while hospital funding has increased by almost one third.
Even so, GPs continue to shoulder much of the health system’s workload. The report found that 86 per cent of GPs manage conditions typically seen by non-GP specialists, and more than 70 per cent regularly treat presentations that would usually go to emergency departments or urgent care clinics.
Workforce strain is another major issue. One in three GPs plan to stop practising within five years, and 63 per cent are considering reducing their working hours.
Despite the financial strain, burnout and workforce challenges, GPs remain committed to their patients. Almost half of GPs would recommend general practice as a career, up from 38 per cent in 2023 – a sign of optimism.
