Professional News 2007

September 2007

What will this election bring for health?

As we have seen with global warming, national policy makers and politicians are slow to act when it comes to big, national, public policy decisions. Careful consideration is naturally prudent when major changes are required, as is the gathering of research data to ensure that any reform is evidence-based and likely to be effective. However, as evident in the findings of the report by UK Treasury head Nicolas Stern, glacier-like responses to the national and international risks posed by climate change and failure to act when the evidence is well advanced, can pose profound economic risks as well as threaten social structures and food and energy security. The sustainability of a safe, high quality, universal health system for Australia is also under threat. Out of pocket costs are increasing, putting essential health care beyond the reach of many Australians on low incomes. Workforce shortages are such that access to services is becoming increasingly difficult. Around 10 per cent of people admitted to hospital suffer harm directly related to their health care, and each year, up to 18,000 people die as a result of the health care they receive. Indigenous Australians are suffering Third World health outcomes. Largely preventable chronic illnesses are creating a huge burden for the acute health system. These are not the characteristics of a sustainable system.

Health policy making in Australia seems to have lost sight of the ultimate goal: to promote health. Even the bottom line to ‘do no harm’ often fails to be met. Large scale policy planning is missing.

A major problem is having different levels of government in charge of different types of services, so when services fail to deliver, each level of government blames the other. Billions of precious health dollars are being wasted each year.

The development of a national health policy to ensure coherent national health services planning is essential. A national health reform commission is also required, as an independent body, to monitor policy and standards and outcomes for all aspects of health services, including workforce, and regularly report its findings publicly. Cost shifting can only be overcome if the many disparate sources of federal and state public health funds are pooled, and then distributed throughout the jurisdictions according to need.

As the federal election approaches, Australians should be watching closely to see which of the parties will be brave enough to ensure Australians will have access to safe, affordable, equitable, health services into the future.

Fiona Armstrong
ANF Federal Professional Officer