Pregnant women increasingly left out of pocket by Medicare antenatal consultations, doctors say

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners there have been major advances in antenatal care but Medicare patient rebates have not kept pace. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Expectant mothers are unable to afford some antenatal consultations, the peak body representing GPs says, as doctors call on the federal government to raise the Medicare rebate.

Dr Karen Price, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners [Racgp], says there have been significant advances in antenatal care over the years but Medicare patient rebates had not kept pace with the costs of providing it.