AMA submission to the role and functions of an Australian CDC

The AMA submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care consultation on the role and functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control emphasises that the CDC must be adequately funded and resourced over the long-term to undertake its multitude of functions, including rapid risk assessment, scientific briefings, public education, and disease prevention. An Australian CDC should be situated as the most trusted source of independent expert advice for pandemic preparedness, other public health emergencies and communicable and non-communicable disease prevention.  

The AMA recognises the need for improved linkages with primary care, and believes they should go beyond guidance, and pertain to data collected in primary care. The AMA would like to see greater use of data held within general practice to inform and improve Australia’s health system and public health initiatives. The AMA would support the CDC working with the Australian Digital Health Agency on developing and improving coding compliance by clinical software vendors in the primary care space to enhance the value and meaningfulness of analytical outputs 

An effective CDC will play a key role in bringing together science with real time monitoring of diseases and must draw upon the expertise of coalface clinicians such as General Practitioners to ensure practical connectivity across all components of the health system. The AMA looks forward to working with the Federal government during the design and development phases for the Australian CDC. 

You can read our full submission here.