WA's Dr Ramya Raman elected RACGP President

Dr Raman, a specialist GP who has been RACGP Vice President since 2024 and WA Chair for the last five years, will be sworn into the role on November 19.

A total of 9866 votes were cast with Dr Raman receiving an absolute majority of 54%.

She said it was a privilege to be elected to represent more than 53,000 members across the nation, and an important moment for WA.

“The RACGP is a national organisation, and we represent everyone throughout Australia. Having the opportunity to represent from the west doesn’t happen very often – our last President from WA was Professor Frank Jones between 2014 to 2016," she told Medical Forum.

“Beyond location, it’s about having the right intent and purpose to serve the profession, it’s a huge privilege and I am very humbled to have been elected by my colleagues to represent in this role.

“For WA, it is fantastic to have this national representation and having another colleague on the board as well.”

Dr Raman will step down from her role as WA Chair when she is sworn in as President in November, paving the way for someone new from WA to step into the role.

Having received an absolute majority of the votes, Dr Raman said she had been overwhelmed by the support, adding that it was a clear sign general practice has a voice to be heard.

"It should be a really strong signal that general practice is important, we are here as a voice, and this gives me an enormous amount of strength to be able to collaborate and advocate at the same time on behalf of members. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.”

She said her focus as President will be on ensuring GPs are properly valued, funded and supported to provide the high-quality care their patients and communities rely on.

“That means working constructively with governments but also advocating strongly when change is needed. We need sustainable funding for general practice, a strong and supported GP workforce, and better access to care for patients wherever they live.

"General practice is the foundation of Australia’s healthcare system. Every day, GPs care for Australians at every stage of life, keeping people healthier, supporting them through complexity and helping keep them out of hospital."

Dr Raman is also a practice owner, running her own clinic in Piara Waters, as well as being a medical educator.

She has been at the forefront of general practice in WA, actively campaigning for strengthening general practice and increasing Medicare funding to support better access to care for patients.

Dr Raman ran her campaign on the basis of wanting to make the voice of GPs impossible to ignore. Her candidate statement spoke to general practice being at a pivotal point, arguing that the future of the profession must be shaped by those within it.

Speaking after her election, Dr Raman said: “There are significant challenges ahead, but there is also a real opportunity to strengthen general practice for the future.

“I look forward to working with our members and bringing their experience and their voices to the decisions that shape our profession and our health system.” 

AMA (WA) President Dr Kyle Hoath congratulated Dr Raman, saying it was an important moment for general practice in WA.

"Ramya can work constructively with governments and stakeholders, while standing firm when reforms threaten patient safety, continuity of care, clinical autonomy or the role of specialist GPs," he said.

“Her commitment to fairer funding for complex care, clinical autonomy, practice viability, continuity of care and properly funded GP-led multidisciplinary teams will be important as governments pursue significant primary care reforms.” 

Dr Raman takes over the role from Dr Michael Wright after his two-year tenure as President.

Dr Wright said the role was in excellent hands: “Dr Raman is a respected member of the general practice community, and as RACGP WA Chair and as my Vice President I have seen first-hand her skills in advocacy, collaboration and in representing the voice of general practice."

Dr Raman ran against two colleagues, former RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz and Townsville GP Dr Gavin Colthart. Dr Raman received 5386 of the total votes, Dr Muñoz received 3161, and Dr Colthart 869.