Delays in Queensland cancer diagnoses are predicted when interstate borders reopen and COVID-19 cases begin to surge.
Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) president Chris Perry said routine elective surgery would "almost certainly" have to be cancelled in public hospitals as COVID-19 cases filled beds.
He warned that would impact on cancer detection, with breast biopsies and colonoscopies having to be "put to one side for a month or six".
"When we can get around to those people and they come in with acute symptoms, their chance of surviving is less," Dr Perry, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, said.
Commenting on the AMA's yearly public hospital report card, Dr Perry said while Queensland hospital performance had marginally improved during the past few years, the latest figures related to a time when health facilities "were largely shut down due to COVID".
"Even with dramatically reduced patient volumes last year, our hospitals were still overwhelmed," he said.
"When our borders open on December 17, and we get inevitable outbreaks of COVID-19, we are going to see more pressure.
We need more beds. Our hospitals can't cope already."
Dr Perry called on the federal government to lift health spending above 10 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
"As healthcare workers, we are sick of people coming and saying we've got to be more efficient," he said.
"We've been hearing that mantra for 30 years. We actually need more funding."
GPs are worried
The AMAQ is also calling for public health orders mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all private healthcare workers, such as general practitioners and their staff.
He said GPs were worried about having to tell their staff, without the protection of a public health directive, that they could not come to work unless they were vaccinated.
"They could get sued. They're in a tight situation. It requires some leadership from the federal or state government."
The push comes as the state inches closer to having two-thirds of its adult population fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Federal health department data shows 66.33 per cent of Queensland adults have had two doses of a vaccine and 79.07 per cent have received at least one dose.
'A lot of unanswered questions'
Infectious disease physician Paul Griffin said he had "genuine concerns" about whether Queensland would reach the target of 80 per cent by December 17.
"We are not where we want to be at this point in time," Dr Griffin said.
"We need to really make sure we get as many people vaccinated as possible before that deadline."
Dr Griffin, an associate professor at the University of Queensland, called for more information about "what the future holds for vaccinated versus unvaccinated people" once borders reopened.
"I think maybe seeing the path forward more clearly might help us get across the line in terms of the vaccination targets.
"Are we going to need to be vaccinated to get into the local gym, or your local pub, or club?
"I think we really need to see those plans and that might help get a few more people across the line."
'It could all be prevented'
University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said he was also concerned about the pace of the Queensland rollout.
"My biggest concern is we need to get the Indigenous populations vaccinated, regional areas vaccinated," he said.
"Some are great, but the rest that aren't need to be targeted with positive messaging.
"Wherever those vaccination rates are low, that's where the virus is going to seek out some fun.
"It's going to get into those groups, it's going to spread and cause trouble.
Dr Mackay called for a Queensland-centric vaccination campaign on television and social media platforms leading into the border reopening.
"The messaging nationally, I feel, has slowed down," he said.
