Welcome to DMC

Diagnostic Medical Co-operative (dmc) is a unique medical alliance that is owned and controlled by Registered Medical Practitioners. The co-operative's primary activity is to manage and co-ordinate the rendering of comprehensive pathology and other related diagnostic services, on behalf of its treating medical practitioners.

Doctors Taking Ownership in Diagnostic Medical Services

The co-operative model to allow medical practitioners to take ownership of diagnostic services was developed and supported by a dedicated group of doctors and scientists. In early 2007 the Diagnostic Medical Co-operative commenced providing pathology services to its members in Sydney and regional NSW and in March 2008 in South Australia.

Being medically owned and operated DMC prioritize quality diagnostic output to meet the needs of its members to deliver optimal patient care. The co-operative has a vision of being an important contributor to the medical community in Australia through the support of research, and assisting in the delivery of medical services to under privileged and remote regions.

Restoring the Balance

In an industry that is being further controlled by large corporate entities every day, we believe that DMC is an important and necessary balance. In Australia, large medical corporations through acquisition have taken ownership of most of the pathology industry and are well on the way to doing the same to what little remains of the independent diagnostic imaging market.

DMC helps put the medical small business person on a level playing field, providing them the same opportunity to benefit from the ownership of diagnostic services, enabling them to maintain their independence and retain practice value.

DMC Supporting the health system

The DMC is strongly committed to working both with Medicare Australia and with all relevant Federal and State Government Departments in a spirit of co-operation and total transparency in relation to the delivery of medical diagnostic services.

The DMC is also strongly committed to the responsible and optimal utilization of public moneys in the Australian health system at all levels. This is particularly the case in respect of the delivery of medical diagnostic services, in relation to which the DMC is in regular contact with Medicare Australia.

The DMC therefore fully endorses and supports the bulk billing of patients in relation to pathology services and continues to assist its Members to build patient services within their own medical practices.
Another important aspect of the commitment of the DMC in this respect is most evident in its Rules, many of which were developed over a number of years in consultation with the Ethics Committee of Medicare.

A further aspect of the commitment of the DMC is also evident in its vigilant efforts to ensure that its Members at all times comply with the provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973, and in the vehement opposition of the DMC to any activity which may in any way contravene the law.

The DMC is also particularly supportive of the Federal Government in its efforts to stop and prevent inappropriate activities on the part of medical diagnostic services providers. As part of its support, the DMC regularly consults with and advises the Federal Government concerning any inappropriate activities on the part of medical diagnostic services providers of which the DMC becomes aware or which any of its Members reports to the DMC.