On Friday Ms Roxon spoke with Tamworth ophthalmologist Peter Hinchcliffe, who represented a group of local eye specialists concerned about the proposed rebate cut.

They say it will mean elderly patients or those living in rural areas will have to pay more for the surgery or face long waiting lists to have it done at public

hospitals.

Ms Roxon said the Federal Government made the change because technological advances meant the procedure was now easier.

“We believe that, when you have the community asking for ... the benefits of new medicines and new technology, which can often be expensive, that we also have to be able to do the reverse – which is to make some savings for taxpayers, where technology has allowed procedures to change,” Ms Roxon said.

“We do understand, and have heard concerns, in rural and regional Australia that this might have an impact that was unexpected in regional areas.

“We’re happy to talk with, and work with, ophthalmologists to see if there’s a solution to that problem.”

Ms Roxon said in order for the government to be able to fund new medicines and new technologies, it had to be able to reap the benefits of them.

“Which sometimes means we can reduce payments for procedures that have become simpler,” she said.

“We believe that the taxpayer-funded parts of the health system should be prioritised to people who are vulnerable.

“It’s about patient care and supporting patients, not about sometimes funding the very generous – at times excessive – incomes for doctors or specialists.”

Dr Hinchcliffe said he was happy to have had the chance to air the group’s concerns with the Minister face-to-face but wanted a better opportunity to discuss the issues directly.

He said private specialists couldn’t absorb the fee reductions the government had announced and would have to pass them on to patients.

“We’re trying to provide as comprehensive a service as we can in our own area and to make it an attractive area for other people to come and practise in. The current proposals are doing a lot to make that more difficult to achieve,” Dr Hinchcliffe said.

“Unless (the government) is open to other, very creative solutions, then that’s going to create big problems for people.”