The AMA has called for health policy to be the top priority in this Federal election. We have supported the push for health reform, but it has to be the right health reform. We have to build on what works and fix what doesn’t.

The Government has invested more than $7 billion of new funding into the health system. We welcome this significant investment but question how and where some of this funding is being directed, with the plan for care for patients with diabetes being a prime example of getting it wrong.

The AMA wants to see more detail of the reforms, we want to see evidence of more hospital beds, we want to see genuine support for family doctors, and we want to see clinician input to public hospital decision-making at the local level. We would prefer a single funder for the health system.

We need to see strong policies and funding for mental health, aged care and Indigenous health.

What do you think? What are your priorities in health for this election? Please post your comments below.