AMA welcomes Health Ministers' reform agenda
AMA Vice-President, Dr Trevor Mudge, said today the AMA supports the direction of the health policy reform agenda presented for discussion at last Friday's Australian Health Ministers' Conference in Melbourne.
Dr Mudge said the agreed intention of Ministers to place improved patient outcomes ahead of Commonwealth/State cost-shifting and blame-shifting in the development of future Australian Health Care Agreements is a major achievement.
"The key to a robust, efficient and effective health system is improved integration of care services among institutional, residential, specialist and primary health care providers," Dr Mudge said.
"At the moment there is too much unnecessary duplication and piecemeal health care.
"It is pleasing that all the Health Ministers now recognise the need to improve the interface between hospitals and primary and aged care services.
"To move forward, we must implement strategies to improve the continuity of care across programs and to address any cost-shifting measures that impede patient care.
"For these strategies to be effective, the Ministers must consult closely with the medical profession so that future policy properly reflects the needs and concerns of doctors and patients at the coalface of health care in Australia.
"The report presented to Health Ministers last week is a good start. We must now build on it to ensure the next health care agreement delivers for Australian patients.
"The AMA remains committed to working with all the Health Ministers to achieve better health outcomes," Dr Mudge said.
The Report to the Australian Health Ministers' Conference from Australian Health Care Agreement Reference Groups September 2002 was released after the Australian Health Ministers' Conference on 27 September 2002 and can be found at http://www.health.gov.au/mediarel/yr2002/minconf.htm
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