With doctors in short supply and bulk-billing clinics preparing to introduce fees, there are fears the Top End's already stretched hospital emergency departments will bear the brunt of more patients.
Many clinics in the Northern Territory are moving to charge fees following years of a frozen Medicare rebate.
The ABC contacted several clinics that advertised bulk billing and none confirmed that they would continue blanket bulk billing for new customers.
GPs say the recent Medicare rebate increase of 1.6 per cent by the Albanese government is not enough.
Arafura Medical has four bulk-billing clinics in suburban and greater Darwin since 1997, but not for long.
Owner Dr Lionel Crompton is moving to a mixed billing model next month, where employed people will be charged.
He had no expectations the Medicare rebate increase would be "sheep stations".
"We knew it would be chicken feed, and it has been for about 25 years now. Well below the CPI," he said.
Top End tip of the iceberg
Top End Medical, the Territory's largest operator, has also started charging.
Dr Crompton fears a bigger issue is a shortage of GPs.
"There's a drift of doctors towards the big capital cities, and recruitments have been very, very difficult to last five or so years," he said.
"My generation is falling off its perch and retiring.
"The overseas-trained doctors get treated so badly that they go to New Zealand or Canada or someplace that appreciates them."
More GPs needed
Flinders University NT Medical Program Associate Professor Emma Kennedy is a GP in Pandanus Medical Clinic.
"We've got fabulous learning opportunities and some great people coming through, we just need to get more people willing to become a GP," she said.
"There's a lot of evidence that when the GP network functions well, it keeps the population healthy.
"When you don't have a network that works, you've more people presenting to emergency departments.
System at breaking point
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners NT chairman Daniel Byrne said while some bulk-billing services may continue in Darwin, he expected waitlists to blow out.
"You're paying for someone who's done 10 years of training, who knows what they're doing.
"We want to pay our staff the extra wages because through the pandemic, they're the ones who've copped it as much as anyone.
"They deserve the 5 per cent pay rise, but the only way we can afford that is to charge a gap."
Asked about the possible strains facing emergency departments, NT Acting Health Minister Nicole Manison said the issue was recently discussed at the National Health Ministers Meeting.
"The Territory government is continuing to work with the Commonwealth to ensure as many Territorians have access to affordable primary healthcare as possible," she said.
Medicare to get almost $1b
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler blamed the former Morrison government, but said the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and GP grants would improve healthcare.
"The Albanese government is committed to investing in general practice and strengthening Medicare with almost $1 billion of investment," Mr Butler said.
"Our 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country will be bulk billed and take pressure off our overwhelmed hospital emergency departments, making it easier for Australians to see a doctor when you need it."
Additional reporting by Jo Laverty
