Calls to increase VAD funding, support and access
Health practitioners must also be supported to provide end-of-life care. That is why we have partnered with other health agencies to call for increased MBS funding for VAD and the amendment of legislation prohibiting equitable access to telehealth services.
AMA Queensland, and several other health agencies, are calling on the government to urgently amend the Commonwealth Criminal Code where it negatively impacts provision of voluntary assisted dying services.
Electronic communication is essential for high-quality and safe health care. However, the Cth Criminal Code’s restriction on how health professionals communicate about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is causing disruptions and delays in care and limiting health professionals’ ability to do their jobs.
Our statement hopes to change this trajectory, increase funding for VAD and ensure all Australian's have access to high quality and safe end-of-life care.
The partners involved in the statement are:
- AMA Queensland
- Pharmeceutical Society of Australia
- Consumers Health Forum of Queensland
- Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
- Peter McCallum Cancer Centre
- Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia
- Clinical Oncology Society of Australia
- Older Persons Advocacy Network
- Australasian College of Nurse Practitioners
- Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association
- Australian Lawyers Alliance
- Health Care Consumers
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Australian Medical Students' Association
- Australian Association of Psychologists
- Voluntary Assisted Dying Australia & NZ
- Public Health Association
