Health Minister Peter Dutton has predicted an overhaul of Medicare, saying spiralling costs will make the system ''unmanageable'' without change.

In an interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Dutton gave the strongest signal yet that the Abbott government may adopt a politically explosive proposal to charge a $6 fee to visit the doctor.

"In the end, we want to strengthen Medicare and we want to strengthen our health system": Peter Dutton. Credit:Andrew Meares

While refusing to comment directly on the proposal, made by Tony Abbott's former policy advisor Terry Barnes in a submission to the Commission of Audit, Mr Dutton said Medicare Benefits Schedule spending had grown at a ''rapid'' rate over the past decade and some argued this growth was ''unsustainable.''

''In the end, we want to strengthen Medicare and we want to strengthen our health system, but we can't do that if we leave change to the 11th hour,'' Mr Dutton told Fairfax Media.