Northern Territory action on Indigenous health
President of the Northern Territory AMA and Federal Councillor, Dr Paul Bauert, today welcomed the NT Government's initiatives on Indigenous Health.
Darwin-based Dr Bauert said the NT Government had announced the creation of 21 new Indigenous health zones across the Territory, each with a Health Board to coordinate all funding for health services targeting Aboriginal people.
"Indigenous health is poor nationally - the NT Government has highlighted the overwhelming differences in health between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
"The disgraceful state of health centres providing for Aboriginal communities meant the Government up here had to act," Dr Bauert said.
Dr Bauert welcomed the initiative to boost primary health care.
"Moves to ensure access to community controlled primary health care services reflect AMA policy," Dr Bauert said.
Dr Bauert congratulated the NT and Commonwealth Governments on the initiative.
"This shows what can be achieved when the Commonwealth, the States and Territories and Indigenous communities work together to produce better health outcomes for Indigenous people.
"It is essential that the NT Government supports the Health Boards in their role and that we see effective health services on the ground. While the increase in funding is welcome, it still falls short of what is required.
"We will watch how the new health zones work and hopefully we will have some outcomes that can be applied nationally," Dr Bauert said.
Dr Bauert said the AMA would be releasing a Report Card on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at the AMA National Conference in Canberra on Friday.
CONTACT: Elizabeth McMaugh, AMA (02) 6270 5440 / (0407) 407 752