2026 RACGP Presidential Campaign Material
trusted voice for general practice in the media
Ramya is regularly called on by Australian media to provide clear, practical and credible commentary on general practice, health policy, patient care and the issues affecting the our profession.
Explore a selection of recent media appearances, interviews and commentary. For media enquiries, please get in touch.
- Featured
- Press
- Radio
- Podcasts
General Practice chose Ramya
Medicus • 5 July 2026
In this Meet the Councillor profile, Dr Ramya Raman reflects on what drew her to general practice, why she moved into leadership, and what she would prioritise as WA Minister for Health. At its heart, it is a story about advocacy as an extension of clinical care, and a career built on the belief that listening first is the foundation of both medicine and leadership.
Kalbarri the latest doctor’s surgery to close, leaving town with no GP
The Australian • 19 June 2026
Dr Raman warned that Kalbarri losing its only GP clinic is a national warning about the collapse of financially unsustainable general practice. She argued that Medicare rebates have failed to keep up with the true cost of care, forcing clinics to absorb losses until they close.
Read the article on The Australian
Butler warned over ‘Medicare misogyny’
The Saturday Paper • 25 April 2026
In this article, Dr Ramya Raman highlights how Labor’s landmark Medicare reforms, despite their intent, have deepened an existing gender pay gap within general practice and why that can no longer be ignored.
Read the article on The Saturday Paper
Nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist rolled out for kids across WA
The West Australian • 25 April 2026
Dr Raman welcomed the needle-free flu vaccine rollout, saying it would make vaccination easier and less stressful for families. She said influenza can cause serious illness in children, and that a free, child-friendly option would help improve uptake, support GPs and reduce pressure on the health system.
Read the article on The West Australian
Free WA flu vaccines will help health system: RACGP WA chair Ramya Raman
The West Australian • 31 March 2026
Dr Raman said making flu vaccines free from April would provide value to the community ahead of flu season. Her message was that earlier, easier access to vaccination would help protect people and support the broader health system.
Read the article on The West Australian
Recognising and responding to domestic violence
Medical Forum • 18 March 2026
In this article, Dr Ramya Raman explores the important role GPs can play in recognising and responding to family and domestic violence. She discusses why general practice is often a critical first point of contact for victim-survivors, and highlights the need for early identification, sensitive support and appropriate intervention.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Urgent care clinics – are they working as intended?
Medical Forum • 10 March 2026
Dr Ramya Raman contributes to this Medical Forum investigation into WA’s expanding Medicare urgent care clinics and whether mainstream general practice is being sidelined in the process. The piece weighs the benefits of UCCs against ongoing concerns from GPs about the future of primary care.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Access without safety isn’t reform – it’s risk
Medicus (AMA WA) • March 2026
Dr Ramya Raman takes a clear-eyed stance on the expansion of pharmacy prescribing, arguing that reframing prescribing as a retail service strips out the clinical judgement that keeps patients safe. From missed contraindications to lost opportunities for screening and early intervention, she warns that access without safety is not reform and calls on policymakers to invest in general practice instead.
Royal Australian College of GPs calls for free Meningococcal B vaccine for WA kids
The West Australian • 25 February 2026
Dr Raman argued that cost was stopping some parents from protecting their children against meningococcal B. She called for the vaccine to be made free for WA children and teenagers, framing it as an equity and prevention issue.
Read the article on The West Australian
Cook Government announces $140 million hospital plan
The West Australian • 24 February 2026
Dr Raman welcomed the State Government’s winter hospital package, describing the approach as thoughtful and collaborative. Her contribution positioned general practice as part of the solution to hospital pressure and winter demand.
Read the article on The West Australian
Free RSV vaccine for aged care residents to be rolled out in WA
ABC News • 19 February 2026
Dr Ramya Raman welcomed free RSV vaccination for aged-care residents, saying RSV can be life-threatening for older adults and that the rollout would protect residents while easing winter pressure on emergency departments and hospital wards.
What role could a Chief GP Advisor play in WA?
Medical Forum • 17 February 2026
Central to this Medical Forum feature is Dr. Ramya Raman on the RACGP WA’s call for a state Chief GP Advisor. The piece examines how the proposed role could improve collaboration between primary and secondary care and take meaningful pressure off WA’s strained hospital system.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Why easing demand for illegal cigarettes will be a win-win situation for WA government
ABC News • 25 January 2026
Dr Ramya Raman said nicotine addiction appeared to be rising, especially among young people, and called for more support for GPs helping patients quit – through counselling, motivational interviewing and other cessation support.
Measles cases almost triple in Australia as global outbreaks continue
ABC News • 22 December 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said measles had been rare in Australia because of immunisation and herd immunity, but global vaccination declines and increased international travel had changed the risk environment – with measles remaining one of the most contagious diseases in the world.
General Practice: The quiet engine room of the health system
Medical Forum • 26 November 2025
Dr Ramya Raman makes the case for general practice as the backbone of Australian healthcare often invisible, always essential. Drawing on the RACGP’s 2025 Health of the Nation report, she argues that a single well-timed preventive consultation is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools in the health system.
Read the article on Medical Forum
67% and climbing
Medicus (AMA WA) • November 2025
Dr Ramya Raman reflects on ABS Patient Experiences data showing 67.2% of Australians can reliably see their preferred GP, a strong signal that continuity remains the backbone of our health system. She draws on international evidence linking long-term GP relationships to lower hospitalisation rates and argues that funding models must shift from throughput to relationship-driven care.
GPs’ check-up for WA’s health system
Medical Forum • 15 October 2025
Dr Ramya Raman led a delegation of GPs to the steps of WA Parliament, presenting four concrete measures to reduce hospital pressure from post-discharge GP follow-up and after-hours funding, to expanded immunisation access and a Chief GP Advisor role. Her message was clear: with targeted investment in primary care, GPs can take significant strain off the state’s hospitals.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Delegation of GPs hand State Parliament a wish-list to solve WA’s ramping crisis
The West Australian • 14 October 2025
Dr Raman said better access to primary care was key to easing WA’s ambulance ramping crisis. She argued GPs could alleviate hospital pressure and backed practical measures including post-discharge GP consult incentives, after-hours support and a Chief GP Advisor.
Read the article on The West Australian
WA’s flu season exceeds 30,000 cases as authorities blame low vaccination rates
ABC News • 14 October 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said post-COVID complacency may be contributing to low flu vaccination rates, and stressed that severe flu and hospitalisations are preventable – urging Western Australians to get vaccinated.
Chronic disease management – a guide to new changes
Medical Forum • 7 October 2025
Dr Ramya Raman features in this Medical Forum deep-dive into the 2025 reforms to Medicare chronic disease management items. The piece examines the changes GPs need to understand quickly from new item structures to MyMedicare registration requirements, as CDM reform begins to take effect.
Read the article on Medical Forum
WA to roll out nasal spray flu vaccinations for children after severe flu season
ABC News • 1 October 2025
Dr Ramya Raman welcomed needle-free flu vaccination for children, noting that young children are vulnerable to severe flu and that needle fear can be a real barrier to uptake – while warning that falling vaccination rates combined with rising flu cases created a dangerous “perfect storm.”
‘Gold standard’ of general practice recognised with new Fellows
Medical Forum • 26 September 2025
Dr Ramya Raman congratulated 84 West Australian GPs on receiving their RACGP Fellowship, recognising the gold standard of general practice. Speaking as RACGP Vice President and WA Chair at the ceremony, she highlighted the stories of newly recognised Fellows making a difference in rural and remote WA communities.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Scope of practice: GP’s expertise in writing a script
Medical Forum • 3 September 2025
A repeat prescription is anything but routine according to Dr. Ramya Raman. Safe prescribing draws on years of training, comprehensive patient history, and a trusted long-term GP relationship. In this guest column, she makes the case for keeping prescribing firmly within the GP’s scope of practice.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Prescriptions to be issued by WA pharmacists for asthma, ear infections under training program expansion
ABC News • 21 July 2025
Dr Ramya Raman warned that pharmacist prescribing expansion was no substitute for longitudinal GP care, raising concerns about misdiagnosis, delayed referrals, hospitalisation risks and antimicrobial resistance if more medicines were prescribed outside general practice.
Doctors wary as pharmacists given authority to diagnose asthma…
The West Australian • 21 July 2025
Dr Raman warned that pharmacists should not be treated as a substitute for patients having access to their regular GP. Her message focused on continuity of care, clinical safety and the importance of doctors who know a patient’s history.
Read the article on The West Australian
GPs welcome ADHD reforms but say cost and prescription barriers remain
ABC News • 16 July 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said ADHD prescribing reform would ultimately depend on state and territory decisions, but argued a nationally consistent model was ideal – noting WA had already made progress and that further reform was likely.
Mothers in Victoria write to health minister amid confusion about RSV injection
ABC News • 4 July 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said staggered state-by-state RSV policy rollouts had caused confusion among families, advised against doctor shopping, and said a regular GP was best placed to assess eligibility because they know the family and maternal history.
Continuity counts
Medicus (AMA WA) • July 2025
Dr Ramya Raman unpacks the OECD’s inaugural PaRIS 2025 survey findings, which confirm what GPs have long known: patients who see the same GP consistently report dramatically better care. With 97% of long-term patients rating their care as good to excellent, versus 79% of those without continuity, she argues the data gives policymakers no excuse to keep ignoring the relational core of general practice.
‘Disbelief’: Mother told her nine-year-old needs to wait 42 months to see a paediatricianThe West Australian • 17 June 2025
Dr Raman indicated that reform work was moving, but families were still waiting for practical change. Her comments reflected concern about long paediatric and ADHD-related waits, and the need to get reforms implemented.
Read the article on The West Australian
How the family GP will be able to diagnose ADHD
The West Australian • 25 June 2025
Dr Raman strongly welcomed the move to train specialist GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD. She said trusted GPs who know their patients and history can safely manage ADHD care, reduce delays and lower costs for families.
Read the article on The West Australian
Is it time for a scope of practice revamp?
Medical Forum • 17 June 2025
Dr Ramya Raman shares her perspective on Australia’s national scope of practice review and what it means for the future of general practice. The article examines the shifting boundaries between GP-led and allied health care in the wake of the review and the 2025 federal election.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Period poverty – a bloody big problem
Medical Forum • 20 May 2025
Lending her voice to this Medical Forum feature, Dr. Ramya Raman examines period poverty in WA, where over 65% of surveyed Australians find it difficult to afford menstrual products. The piece explores the GP’s role in identifying and supporting patients facing this often-hidden burden.
Read the article on Medical Forum
RSV season ramps up as government examines whether to expand free vaccine access
ABC News • 19 May 2025
Dr Ramya Raman described RSV vaccination as a community “gamechanger” that reduces severity and hospitalisations, and called for broader free access for all those recommended to receive it.
Measles cases across the country reach highest levels in six years
ABC News • 13 May 2025
Dr Ramya Raman attributed rising measles cases to overseas travel, local spread, high infectiousness and vaccination rates falling below the 95 per cent herd-immunity threshold, and urged anyone with suspected measles to seek medical care promptly.
Number of junior WA doctors studying to be GP increases but…
The West Australian • 4 May 2025
Dr Raman said the increase in junior doctors training to become GPs was positive for access to care, but not an instant fix. Her message was that WA needed sustained investment in the GP training pipeline.
Read the article on The West Australian
New PBS listings for women’s health
Medical Forum • 2 May 2025
Dr Ramya Raman welcomes landmark PBS listing changes for women’s health, covering endometriosis, contraception, and IVF, calling them a crucial step towards health equity. Speaking as RACGP WA Chair, she outlines what these listings mean for patients accessing care through general practice.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Doctors urge travellers to stay vigilant as global outbreak of measles makes its way to Australia
ABC News • 10 April 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said parents should not panic about measles but should take sensible precautions, handwashing, cleaning surfaces and seeking medical attention when unwell, while stressing that measles is preventable through safe, effective and free vaccination.
Fragmented care – why bother?
Medicus (AMA WA) • April 2025
Dr Ramya Raman examines how fragmented healthcare funding is creating measurably worse outcomes for patients particularly in rural and regional Australia. Using a compelling case study, she argues that when funding creates silos, patients fall through the cracks, and calls for systemic reform of how general practice is organised and resourced.
WA State Election 2025: Union backs Liberal GP plan
The West Australian • 11 February 2025
Dr Raman welcomed the GP policy package and pushed back against criticism that it would drain hospitals of doctors. Her position was that stronger general practice can reduce pressure on hospitals, rather than compete with them.
Read the article on The West Australian
Future GPs training in WA increases as peak body calls for more incentives
The West Australian • 3 February 2025
Dr Raman used the increase in future GP training numbers to call for more incentives and support. Her message was that WA needed to make general practice more attractive and sustainable to address workforce shortages.
Read the article on The West Australian
Why invest in general practice?
Medicus (AMA WA) • February 2025
Dr Ramya Raman makes the case for a 40% increase to Medicare rebates for longer GP consultations, drawing on a vivid patient encounter to show policymakers what a specialist GP actually does in the room. This opinion piece cuts through the debate to ask: do decision-makers understand the true complexity of what GPs provide?
More than 85,000 infants and toddlers diagnosed with RSV in 2024 ahead of national vaccine rollout
ABC News • 31 January 2025
Dr Ramya Raman said RSV particularly affects young children and older people with chronic conditions, and recommended basic precautions such as handwashing, sanitising, staying home when sick and using masks where appropriate.
How to keep your guests safe from gastro and COVID this Christmas
ABC News • 22 December 2024
Dr Ramya Raman advised hosts to make it easier for sick guests to stay home, use hand hygiene and serving utensils, encourage children to wash hands, and take simple steps to avoid spreading COVID or gastro at Christmas gatherings.
Western Australia is planning free RSV immunisations for babies as cases rise – will other states follow suit?
ABC News • 8 March 2024
Dr Ramya Raman said RSV immunisation reduces illness severity and noted RSV is a major cause of bronchiolitis, pneumonia and hospitalisation in young children, arguing the program should be considered for children across Australia.
Free RSV immunisations planned for WA babies in bid to prevent 700 hospitalisations each year
ABC News • 5 March 2024
Dr Ramya Raman welcomed WA’s RSV immunisation plan for babies, saying RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation in children under five and that preventing severe illness would help families and reduce pressure on hospitals.
Acknowledging inequalities in global health
newsGP (RACGP) • 15 December 2023
Dr Ramya Raman writes on the lasting impact of colonial history on global health systems and the urgent need to address deep-seated inequalities in medicine. The piece calls on health professionals, educators, and organisations to critically examine power structures, embrace community expertise, and reform education to build a more equitable healthcare future.
Bulk-bill revolt: Frustrated patients forced to delay or go without medical help
The West Australian • 10 September 2023
Dr Raman said bulk-billing incentives were a step in the right direction, but the broader affordability problem remained. The article framed her comments around patients delaying or missing care because of consultation costs.
Read the article on The West Australian
College head visits Geraldton
Medical Forum • 8 September 2023
Dr Ramya Raman joined RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins on a visit to Geraldton as WA Faculty Chair, meeting GP teams on the ground in one of WA’s key regional centres. The trip offered a firsthand look at rural workforce challenges and the innovative solutions emerging from the ground up.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Generative AI and the future of medicine
newsGP (RACGP) • 8 September 2023
Dr Ramya Raman reflects on what generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT could mean for the future of medicine. This opinion piece considers whether AI might displace clinical knowledge workers, how it’s already embedded in everyday tools, and what the profession needs to grapple with across governance, liability, and workforce disruption.
UTI pharmacy prescribing – doctors reply
Medical Forum • 8 September 2023
Dr Ramya Raman responds to Medical Forum’s questions on WA’s pharmacist UTI prescribing trial, addressing patient safety risks, antimicrobial resistance concerns, and privacy issues. As RACGP WA Chair, she makes the case for why fragmenting care away from GPs ultimately harms the patients it aims to help.
Read the article on Medical Forum
How doctors and pharmacists are facing off in just about every medical debate
The West Australian • 2 September 2023
Dr Raman argued against pharmacist prescribing being treated as a replacement for GP assessment. Her comments focused on patient safety, continuity of care and appropriate clinical oversight in the wider doctors-versus-pharmacists policy debate.
Read the article on The West Australian
WA government to allow pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections
ABC News • 4 August 2023
Dr Ramya Raman raised concerns about pharmacist UTI prescribing, warning it could increase overprescribing and antimicrobial resistance, and argued that diagnosis is not always straightforward and should reflect the training and expertise of GPs.
Women needing antibiotics for urinary tract infections no longer need a GP appointment
The West Australian • 4 August 2023
Dr Raman warned that UTI treatment through pharmacies needed proper diagnostic safeguards. She said urine dipstick testing should be part of best-practice diagnosis and raised concerns about over prescribing and antibiotic resistance.
Read the article on The West Australian
WA Government confirms GP practices won’t be chased over payroll tax, saving patients
The West Australian • 20 July 2023
Dr Raman welcomed WA’s confirmation that GP practices would not be pursued over payroll tax, calling it a major relief for GPs. Her message was that avoiding the payroll tax hit helped protect patients from higher consultation costs.
Read the article on The West Australian
Helping refugees access WA’s health care
Medical Forum • 12 July 2023
Dr Ramya Raman is among the GPs contributing perspectives to this Medical Forum feature on refugee health care in WA. The piece examines the critical role general practice plays in delivering patient-centred, culturally responsive care for some of the community’s most vulnerable members.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Antimicrobial stewardship – the path to least resistance
Medical Forum • 21 February 2023
Dr Ramya Raman argues that antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing threats to global health and that expanding the number of prescribers only accelerates it. In this guest column, she calls for antimicrobial stewardship to be front and centre in any discussion about pharmacy prescribing rights.
Read the article on Medical Forum
WA town offering $1 million salary in bid to secure a doctor for local general practice
The West Australian • 27 January 2023
Dr Raman said the Wheatbelt was one of the regions struggling most to secure GPs. Her comments pointed to the severity of the rural workforce crisis and the need for stronger action from governments.
Read the article on The West Australian
WA primary healthcare nurse practitioners say Medicare rebates must rise
ABC News • 25 November 2022
Dr Ramya Raman framed the nurse practitioner funding issue as part of a broader primary-care problem, calling for higher Medicare rebates for general practice and arguing that investment in primary care reduces hospital admissions and readmissions.
Western Australia’s long COVID sufferers call for dedicated clinic to treat debilitating condition
ABC News • 30 October 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said more data and research were needed because long COVID could be difficult to diagnose and manage, and argued WA should consider a dedicated long-COVID clinic to provide screening and testing in one place.
WA Premier shifts blame for hospital woes onto GPs
newsGP • 6 September 2022
When WA Premier Mark McGowan publicly blamed GPs for the state’s overcrowded emergency departments, Dr Ramya Raman pushed back as RACGP WA Chair, calling the comments unacceptable. Dr Raman called on the Premier to get behind GPs, who had been on the frontline of the pandemic for two and a half years without deserving blame.
Patients charged expensive out-of-pocket fees as doctors stop bulk billing
ABC News • 29 August 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said the move away from bulk billing was a predictable consequence of rising practice costs and inadequate Medicare rebate indexation, and argued that stronger investment in general practice was essential because primary care underpins the entire health system.
Debilitating impact of long COVID prompts calls for WA to open its own clinic for sufferers
ABC News • 13 August 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said WA was only beginning to recognise long COVID because widespread transmission had arrived later in a highly vaccinated population. She noted GPs were still learning about the condition and said dedicated services should be considered if patient numbers continued to rise.
Western Australia’s fourth COVID-19 shot rate lagging behind the rest of nation
ABC News • 22 July 2022
Dr Ramya Raman acknowledged parents’ vaccine concerns as legitimate but said GPs could help families work through their questions – particularly as COVID cases were rising during winter.
WA free flu vaccinations extended as cases rise, with many young children yet to get the jab
ABC News • 30 June 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said it was concerning that only a small proportion of WA children under five had received a flu vaccine, and urged families to take up vaccination while supporting the extension of the free flu vaccine program.
COVID in WA: Mark McGowan slams GPs for turning away respiratory patients as breach of Hippocratic Oath
The West Australian • 20 May 2022
Dr Raman pushed back on criticism that GPs were driving patients into hospitals. She said practices faced real infection-control and space constraints when managing respiratory or possible COVID patients.
Read the article on The West Australian
Vomiting and other gastro-like symptoms relatively common in people with COVID-19
ABC News • 8 April 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said gastro symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting were common with Omicron, urged people to consider COVID when these symptoms appeared, and stressed the importance of hydration – especially for children.
The Heart Foundation: Web traffic on heart health doubles since deaths of Shane Warne and Kimberley Kitching
The West Australian • 26 March 2022
Dr Raman encouraged Australians to see their GP for heart-health checks, noting that preventive checks had fallen during the pandemic. Her message was that people should not delay routine and preventive care.
Read the article on The West Australian
Parents move to vaccinate children ahead of WA border reopening amid supply issues
ABC News • 7 January 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said vaccinating children was more complex and time-consuming than adult vaccination, GPs needed to answer parent questions, manage needle anxiety and keep children comfortable, and called for more funding support for practices to deliver this care.
Last minute proof of COVID-19 vaccination rule leaves Perth businesses scrambling to keep up
ABC News • 5 January 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said booster demand was steadily increasing after a lull, likely helped by WA’s border reopening plans, but GP practices were facing vaccine supply pressures that she expected would ease in early January.
GPs call for change to health funding status, incentives to fight WA doctor shortage
ABC News • 3 January 2022
Dr Ramya Raman said GP shortages were a nationwide issue worsened by the pandemic and travel restrictions, and called for stronger investment, training and incentives to attract more GPs – particularly in rural and remote communities.
Coronavirus vaccine: New rush for COVID jabs, boosters after WA’s latest virus scare
The West Australian • 27 December 2021
Dr Raman said demand for COVID boosters had increased after WA’s latest virus scare and eligibility changes. Her comments reflected a rise in public urgency around vaccination and boosters.
Read the article on The West Australian
In brief: December 2021
Medical Forum • December 2021
Dr Ramya Raman features in Medical Forum’s December 2021 news roundup.
Read the article on Medical Forum
COVID-19 vaccine research aims to boost jabs for pregnant women
ABC News • 22 November 2021
Dr Ramya Raman said there was initially an information gap for pregnant patients during the vaccine rollout, and welcomed clear ATAGI and RANZCOG guidance because it helped GPs give trusted, direct advice to pregnant women considering vaccination.
Varicella zoster and pneumococcal vaccine counselling in elderly patients
Medical Forum • 8 November 2021
Dr Ramya Raman, co-authoring with Xavier Cornwall, outlines the clinical case for proactive vaccination counselling in elderly patients. The article covers the disease burden of herpes zoster and pneumococcal illness in older Australians and what GPs should be discussing with at-risk patients.
Read the article on Medical Forum
Tests to consider if you’re planning pregnancy
ABC News • 11 September 2021
Dr Ramya Raman advised anyone planning a pregnancy to see their GP beforehand, ideally a few months ahead, so they can review general health, lifestyle risks, folic acid, nutrition, STI screening, immunity and blood sugar testing, all tailored to the individual.
Recognising and tackling unconscious bias in clinical medicine
Medical Forum • 8 July 2021
Dr Ramya Raman explores how unconscious cognitive bias shapes clinical judgements in ways practitioners often don’t recognise. The article outlines the processes behind bias in medicine and practical steps clinicians can take to identify and counter it for safer, more equitable patient care.
Read the article on Medical Forum
COVID-19 vaccination rollout: Lockdown, Delta force people to get a move on
The West Australian • 6 July 2021
Dr Raman said WA’s COVID scare had prompted more first-dose bookings, including among seniors who had previously been hesitant. Her comments linked lockdown and Delta concerns to increased vaccination momentum.
Read the article on The West Australian
Blended learning – digital transformation of medical education
Medical Forum • 5 March 2021
Dr Ramya Raman examines how COVID-19 forced a rapid transformation of medical education in WA, accelerating the adoption of blended learning and digital tools. The article explores what this shift looked like in practice and what lasting lessons the profession can take from it.
Read the article on Medical Forum
In brief: February 2021
Medical Forum • February 2021
Dr Ramya Raman features in Medical Forum’s February 2021 news roundup.
Read the article on Medical Forum
GP – working with the whole person
Medical Forum • 2 February 2021
Dr Ramya Raman is profiled by Ara Jansen in this Medical Forum piece on what it means to truly practise patient-centred care. She reflects on the values and philosophy behind her approach to general practice and why building long-term trust with patients is at the heart of everything she does.
Read the article on Medical Forum
’Fourth trimester’: a role for general practice
Medical Forum • 9 December 2020
Dr Ramya Raman, co-authoring with Notre Dame medical student Juan Stephen, explores the critical but often overlooked window of postnatal care. The article examines how GPs are uniquely placed to identify and support mothers experiencing postnatal depression during the so-called ‘fourth trimester’.
Read the article on Medical Forum
In brief: November 2020
Medical Forum • November 2020
Dr Ramya Raman features in Medical Forum’s November 2020 news roundup.
Read the article on Medical Forum
In brief: October 2020
Medical Forum • October 2020
Dr Ramya Raman features in Medical Forum’s October 2020 news roundup.
Read the article on Medical Forum
GPs in the COVID era
Medical Forum • 30 April 2020
Dr Ramya Raman features in this Medical Forum reflection on how general practice, the community’s health lifeline absorbed the first shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. The piece captures what it meant for GPs across WA to be on the frontline of an unprecedented public health crisis.
Read the article on Medical Forum
How low can you go?
The Check Up on ABC Drive • 24 June 2026
On ABC Perth Drive’s The Check-up, Dr Ramya Raman speaks with Oliver Peterson and advises how testosterone levels fluctuate in both men and women, and the everyday factors that influence them, from age and weight to sleep, diet and diabetes. The conversation also touches on the Androgens In Men Study (AIMS), a world-leading international collaboration out of The University of Western Australia exploring the links between sex hormones and cancer in men.
Listen to “The Check Up” with Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Drive
Is bulk-billing sustainable for a general practice?
The Check Up on ABC Drive • 3 June 2026
On ABC Perth Drive’s The Check-up, Dr Ramya Raman joins Oliver Peterson to discuss whether bulk-billing remains sustainable for Australian general practice. The conversation explores the impact of GP access challenges in regional communities such as Kalbarri, why the RACGP is calling for higher Medicare patient rebates, and what bulk-billing pressures mean for patients, GPs and the future of primary care.
Listen to “The Check Up” with Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Drive
Everything asthma including common triggers
The Check Up on ABC Drive • 13 May 2026
Asthma is the focus of this ABC Perth Drive The Check-up segment, with Dr Ramya Raman sharing practical advice on common symptoms, triggers and everyday management. Speaking with Oliver Peterson, Dr Raman explains how seasonal changes can affect respiratory conditions, when patients should seek medical advice, and why flu vaccination is an important part of winter health planning.
Listen to “The Check Up” with Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Drive
AI health advice can be risky
The Check Up on ABC Drive • 12 September 2026
From flu vaccination timing to the rise of “Dr AI”, Dr Ramya Raman shares practical health advice on ABC Perth Drive’s The Check-up. Speaking with Oliver Peterson, Dr Raman explains why AI-generated health advice should be treated with caution, how a GP can support patients to quit smoking, and when families should consider the flu jab, particularly when children are frequently unwell.
Listen to “The Check Up” with Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Drive
GP pitch to relieve ambulance ramping
Mornings on ABC Radio • 14 October 2025
Addressing WA’s ongoing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, Dr Ramya Raman joins Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC WA Mornings to outline the RACGP’s GP-led pitch to help relieve ambulance ramping. As WA Chair and Vice President of the RACGP, Dr Raman discusses how strengthening general practice and improving access to primary care can support patients earlier, reduce avoidable hospital presentations, and ease pressure across the health system.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Mornings
WA’s GP workforce shortage
ABC Breakfast • 6 October 2025
As new data revealed Western Australia had the lowest number of GPs of any Australian state, Dr Ramya Raman joined Mark Gibson on ABC Perth Breakfast to discuss what this means for patients, clinics and access to care. Speaking as RACGP WA Chair, Dr Raman highlighted the pressures facing general practice in WA and the need to strengthen the GP workforce so communities can access timely, high-quality primary care.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Breakfast
WA GPs to start ADHD diagnosis and treatment from 2026
6PR Perth • 25 June 2025
In a significant step for patient access, Dr Ramya Raman joined Oliver Peterson on 6PR Perth to welcome a State Government-funded program training 65 specialist GPs to independently diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulant medication for patients aged 10 and older. She described the initiative as a positive move to upskill general practice and reduce the long waits patients currently face to see psychiatrists for an ADHD assessment.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 6PR
Labor’s promise of more urgent care clinics could come at a cost
6PR Perth • 22 April 2025
With Labor promising to expand urgent care clinics ahead of the federal election, Dr Ramya Raman joined Perth Live host Russell Collett to challenge the economics of that plan. She argued that urgent care clinics cost five times more than a standard GP consult and that the same care could be delivered more efficiently through existing general practices, raising serious questions about where health funding would be better spent.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 6PR
Should GP visits be free?
Hack on Triple J • 11 February 2025
With many young Australians delaying GP visits because of cost-of-living pressures, Dr Ramya Raman joins Dave Marchese on triple j Hack to discuss the RACGP’s call for free GP visits. Speaking as Vice President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Raman explores how improving access to affordable general practice can support early care, reduce barriers for patients, and strengthen Australia’s primary healthcare system.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on Triple J’s Hack program
Australians have stopped seeing their GP because it’s become too expensive
6PR Perth • 14 August 2024
As new Medicare data revealed GP visits had dropped by almost 2.5 million in a year, Dr Ramya Raman joined 6PR Breakfast hosts Millsy and Karl to explain what’s driving the crisis. She spoke candidly about the financial pressure squeezing general practices, from staffing and electricity to equipment and IT, and why a bulk-billing model alone had become unsustainable, forcing some practices to close their doors entirely.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 6PR
Managing weight loss…
ABC Drive • 12 September 2023
Dr Ramya Raman joins Jo Trilling on ABC Drive as the program’s resident GP to share practical, evidence-based tips for managing weight loss. The discussion highlights how patients can approach weight management in a sustainable way, the role of general practice in supporting long-term health goals, and why personalised medical advice matters when making lifestyle changes.
Listen to Dr Ramya Raman on 102.5 ABC Drive
Women’s health, child health & medical education in General Practice
Bench Side Story • 2 July 2026
In this researcher profile filmed in Sydney, Dr Ramya Raman discusses her clinical research interests spanning women’s health, child health, primary care and medical education. She shares her work on preventive care in general practice as well as her involvement in RACGP-funded research into longitudinal medical student placements in outer metropolitan general practice.
Watch the full profile on Bench Side Story
Preparing for Assignment of Benefit Changes in Bulk Billing
The Good GP Podcast • 25 June 2026
In this episode, Dr Ramya Raman discusses how the RACGP successfully advocated for an extension of the verbal consent period for assignment of benefit, and what general practices need to know to prepare for the transition ahead.
Listen to Episode 250 on The Good GP Podcast
Mpox in Australia: What GPs Need to Know Now
The Good GP Podcast • 23 June 2026
In this episode, Dr Ramya Raman and specialist GP Dr Fergus McCabe break down everything GPs need to know about the rising cases of mpox in Australia, from recognising atypical presentations to taking sexual health histories, testing, infection control and vaccination guidance.
Listen to Episode 249 on The Good GP Podcast
Fulfilling clinical, academic & research goals in General Practice
Australian Health Journal • June 2026
In this People in Health Care profile filmed in Sydney, Dr Ramya Raman reflects on her career spanning clinical practice, medical education and health policy – from her rural upbringing in Orange, NSW, to leading The Garden Family Medical Clinic in Perth and serving as Discipline Head of General Practice at the University of Notre Dame. She discusses her role as a national advocate for general practice, her approach to governance and health system reform, and what drives her leadership.
Watch the full profile on Australian Health Journal
Current diphtheria outbreak in northern Australia
The Good GP Podcast • 2 June 2026
On The Good GP, Dr Ramya Raman is joined by public health physician Dr Paul Victor Effler to examine the current diphtheria outbreak in northern Australia. Together, they unpack the clinical features of diphtheria, when GPs should suspect it, testing and public health responses, and the role of vaccination in protecting high-risk communities.
Listen to Episode 246 on The Good GP Podcast
Asthma reset – what’s changed for adults and kids
The Good GP Podcast • 26 May 2026
Dr Ramya Raman speaks with paediatric respiratory physician Dr Stephen Oo on The Good GP to explore the latest updates to the Australian Asthma Handbook and their impact on asthma management in general practice. The discussion unpacks changes to reliever therapy, the shift toward treating airway inflammation, and practical approaches to asthma care for adults, adolescents and children.
Listen to Episode 245 on The Good GP Podcast
Measles Outbreak Preparedness: Essential Knowledge for GPs
The Good GP Podcast • 15 April 2026
With measles cases remaining a concern for Australian general practice, Dr Ramya Raman discusses the essential knowledge GPs need to recognise, test and respond to suspected measles. The episode covers measles symptoms, vaccination, risk factors, infection control and public health notification, with a focus on practical outbreak preparedness.
Listen to Episode 199 on The Good GP Podcast
Building Real Solutions for Everyday GP Challenges
The Good GP Podcast • 22 January 2026
Dr Ramya Raman discusses the RACGP Hackathon 2026 with Dr Sean Stevens and Dr Amandeep Hansra, exploring how clinician-led innovation can help solve everyday challenges in general practice. The conversation highlights what a healthcare hackathon involves, who should apply, and how digital health and practical innovation can support GPs, patients and the future of primary care.
Listen to Episode 231 on The Good GP Podcast
General Practice Under Pressure
Health in Focus Podcast • 18 December 2025
Dr Ramya Raman joins host Dr Katharine Bassett to discuss the mounting pressures facing general practice in Australia, from rising patient demand to stagnant funding, and what needs to change to ensure GPs can continue delivering the care communities rely on.
Listen to Health in Focus on Apple Podcasts
Endometriosis needs action, not just awareness Challenges
Health in Focus Podcast • 28 October 2025
In this special Health in Focus panel, Dr Ramya Raman, Vice President of the RACGP, and Julie Snook, Ambassador for Endometriosis Australia, share powerful insights into the medical, social, and emotional dimensions of endometriosis. Together, they explore how early recognition, better training, and multidisciplinary care can change outcomes for women across Australia.
Listen to Health in Focus on Spotify
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and community.
© 2026 Dr Ramya Raman