Put patients ahead of politics when negotiating Health Care Agreements - AMA

Dr Glasson said the Prime Minister and the Premiers must use tomorrow's COAG meeting to reach an agreement that patient care and health system reform must take priority over budget bickering to avoid Health Care Agreements brinkmanship in the future.

"The Australian public is sick of the political grandstanding by all Governments over the Health Care Agreements," Dr Glasson said.

"The Federal Government must examine the effectiveness of its health funding formula to make it better reflect patient need.  The States and Territories must similarly be more transparent about their health spend and their commitment to increase funding to meet growing demand in the hospital and aged care sectors especially.

"People want the security of knowing they can see a doctor or access a hospital bed when they need one without having to worry about the cost.  The priority must be achieving the best possible health outcomes for the Australian community.

"Instead, negotiations over the last three Health Care Agreements are best remembered for bickering and buck-passing and blame-shifting without a thought for what's best for patients and our public hospitals and aged care facilities.

"Our political leaders must put patients before politics," Dr Glasson said.

Dr Glasson said that despite the argy bargy over the $42 billion Federal funding over the five years of the Agreement, the Government's own forward estimates reveal a shortfall in the offer to the States of around $1 billion.

"Signing the Agreement as it stands is tantamount to signing off on an underfunding of health for the next five years," Dr Glasson said.

"The States and Territories should go the extra yards before signing to gain further concessions.  The ACT Government negotiated around $15 million, including $7 million for new health facilities, over and above the original offer.  If the other States are as successful, we may yet see the extra $1 billion by default.  Not signing could result in penalties that could see the States and patients worse off.

"Whatever the outcome, the States must get smarter with how they spend their health dollars, especially on outpatient services, emergency services, access to general practice and aged care services.

"Above all, our Governments must work together on the health care reform agenda to provide better health care to all Australians well into the future, not just the next five years."

CONTACT:            John Flannery                       (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761