Labor's Indigenous Health Policy - Long on Good Intentions but Short on Funding
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that Labor's Indigenous Health Policy is full of good intentions but contains far too little funding to deliver long-term improvements in the health of Indigenous Australians.
In its recent report - Healing Hands: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Requirements - the AMA estimated that $1.6 billion of new funding would be needed over four years to make a real difference to people who endure health levels and outcomes that are among the lowest in the world.
Labor has today announced $50.8 million over four years. The Government announced $40 million over four years in the 2004-2005 Budget.
Dr Glasson, an ophthalmologist who spends a lot of time working in Indigenous communities, said the overall funding is simply way too short of what is needed.
"At a time when a massive Budget surplus is available, neither side of politics has yet done the hard yards on the national disgrace that is the state of Indigenous Health in the 21st Century," Dr Glasson said.
"Nevertheless, much of the Labor policy direction is well targeted.
"Pooling funds, for instance, will allow Indigenous communities to choose the percentage of available money that is right for their specific local health needs and other related services like housing, clean water, sanitation and education.
"This sort of local empowerment can make a big difference in improving health.
"It is vital that communities have the ability to integrate their services. I know from experience that the trachoma and ear infection programs will not work unless the sanitation and housing issues are fixed as well.
"Rather than have these programs work in isolation, it would be better to make them available through regular primary health care services to ensure long term results."
Dr Glasson said the AMA welcomes the ALP's commitment of $43.9 million over four years for Indigenous Higher Education but, again, more is needed.
"We estimate that the cost of supporting Indigenous health trainees alone to be $64 million over four years.
"While there will be indirect health benefits to Indigenous Australians from other elements of Labor's $358.7 million Opportunity for all Indigenous Australians package, the funding commitment on Indigenous Health is clearly not enough," Dr Glasson said.
15 September 2004
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306