Government Should Rationalise Spending and Save

NAT

The Australian Healthcare Association (AHA) has called on federal and state/territory governments to rationalise their responsibilities in health and spend the savings on improving the health of the Australian community.

Commenting on research by Canberra University researcher Mark Drummond, which found Australian governments could save $1.04 billion a year in public spending by eradicating duplication and overlap in their health responsibilities, AHA executive director Prue Power said the extra $1.04 billion a year could alleviate the most pressing problems in the health system.

‘It would go a long way towards upgrading our run-down public hospital system and increasing the numbers of doctors, nurses and other health care workers.

‘This would ensure that our public health system is equipped to meet the rising demand for health care while maintaining high standards of safety and quality.

‘It would also address some of seriously underfunded areas in the health system, such as public dental services, aged care, mental health services and Indigenous health. This would reduce the current inequalities of access in health and ensure the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in the community receive the high standard of care they deserve,’ Ms Power said.

The AHA suggests spending the additional $1.04 billion a year as follows:

* $104m to upgrade ageing hospital infrastructure, capital stock, equipment and information/communication technologies;

* $50m to upgrade aged care facilities;

* $200m for additional step down and rehabilitation facilities;

* $100m for a public dental program, targeting children, rural and remote communities, Indigenous Australians and disadvantaged families;

* $150m for additional public physiotherapy, mental health and other allied health services;

* $100m for more nurses in public hospitals, aged care facilities and community care;

* $100m for additional medical specialists in public hospitals and regional/rural areas;

* $200m to address the growing health inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Copyright Australian Nursing Federation Apr 2005