WA Chair throws her hat in the ring for RACGP presidency

The GP and practice owner who is the College’s Vice President and has been WA Chair for the past five years said she wanted to ensure the voice of general practice was “impossible to ignore”.

She has stepped aside from those roles while the campaign and election takes place.

Dr Raman said she was standing because general practice was at a defining point.

"The decisions being made now will shape how GPs practise and how patients receive care for decades to come," she told Medical Forum.

"Every day, GPs are managing greater complexity while practices face rising operating costs, workforce shortages and funding that has not kept pace with the real cost of delivering comprehensive care."

She said her goal would be to ensure that general practice was protected, properly valued and equipped for the future.

"My commitment is straightforward: I will protect what is essential about general practice, build what our profession needs next and focus the College’s influence on delivering meaningful outcomes for GPs and their patients," she said

Dr Raman has advocated for increased funding for longer consultations and has been a strong voice for women's health. She has listed her priorities for the role of RACGP President on her website.

“As more services are delivered in silos, the RACGP must defend the value of specialist GPs as the doctors who hold the whole picture."

She said that the College must be also accountable for how it uses member funds.

“In an era of rising costs, members are entitled to know their fees are being used wisely," her priorities read.

“GPs are under financial pressure, practices are under pressure, and members should expect the RACGP to be focused, efficient and clear in its communication about the value it delivers.

“I will scrutinise overheads, reduce unnecessary complexity and focus the College resources on the core work members rely on.”

The term of RACGP President lasts for two years, with current President and Sydney based GP Dr Michael Wright having been in the role since November 2024.

Candidate nominations are open until July 20 and competition for the role has already emerged.

RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz has also indicated her intention to contend for the role in a LinkedIn post.

“General practice is under real pressure. I believe our profession deserves a President who has already shown they can turn advocacy into outcomes — not just at the podium, but in the rooms where the decisions get made,” she wrote.

Voting takes place between August 11 and 21, with the President announced on August 24.