AMA releases health policy platform
KEY HEALTH ISSUES FOR THE 2013 FEDERAL ELECTION
The AMA today released Key Health Issues for the 2013 Federal Election - a summary of the major health issues that the AMA considers must be addressed by the major parties during the election campaign and into the next term of Government, whichever party wins.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that the AMA’s health policies are practical, achievable, and affordable.
“Health reform must be resuscitated urgently or Australians will find it more and more difficult to get access to quality affordable health care – where and when they need it,” Dr Hambleton said.
“These are tough economic conditions nationally and internationally, but the next Government must invest the best it can in the health of the Australian people.
“It is important in this environment to get back to basics. We must protect and support the fundamentals of the health system.
“If new funding is limited, then it must go towards building on the things that work, the things that respond to our changing needs.
“Any policy must be tested against the reasons we need reform – our increasing burden of chronic disease and our ageing population.
“Proposals should be moving us toward a joined-up, strengthened primary health care system built on team-based solutions,” Dr Hambleton said.
Key Health Issues for the 2013 Federal Election covers:
· Healthier Australian Families;
· Affordable Medical Services;
· Better Environmental Health;
· Self-Education Expense Cap;
· Medical Workforce and Training;
· Continuing to Improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health;
· Preventing the Harms of Alcohol to Young Australians;
· Medical Care for Dementia, Palliative, and Aged Care Patients;
· Tackling Chronic Disease;
· GP Infrastructure;
· Rural Health;
· e-Health;
· PBS Authority Prescriptions; and
· Appropriate Health Care for Asylum Seekers.
The document is available on the AMA website at https://ama.com.au/keyhealthissues
17 July 2013
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753