The Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) warns doctors could quit the public hospital system if they are pushed onto individual pay contracts.

Legislation to change the system is currently before State Parliament.

The auditor-general recently found that only half of the senior doctors claiming hefty allowances were actually treating private patients in public hospitals.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says individual contracts will address the issue.

“We have to go to contracts, the auditor-general pointed out a whole range of issues,” he said.

“We have people in Queensland, medicos, obviously highly qualified but earning more than a million dollars and basically on awards and what we have to do is that we have to have performance based contracts that give us the flexibility but ensure that they’re getting a reasonable return.

However, AMAQ president Christian Rowan says doctors have serious concerns about overtime, rest and meal breaks.

“If we lose any of our doctors from the system they won’t be there to deliver services for patients,” he said.

“Therefore you can have longer waiting lists, less clinical service delivery, doctors who are fatigued, and that’s not in the interests of patients.”