Media Releases

2019-10-19

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The Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA) today called on all political parties to work together to find solutions to the current private health insurance crisis and to develop a joint approach to the future funding of private health care in Australia.

Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

3 days ago

State of the Global Climate 2021The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of the Global Climate in 2021 report finds that oceans were the warmest and most acidic on record, while melting ice sheets drove new records for sea level rise. https://bit.ly/3wpIfR6 Exceptional heatwaves were recorded in North America and the Mediterranean, deadly flooding hit China and western Europe, food prices rose due to drought, and rain was recorded for the first time on the summit of Greenland’s ice sheet. https://bit.ly/3Nmq4l8And right now India is under extreme heat stress described by CNN as testing the limits of human survivability. https://cnn.it/3Prc0bM and https://ab.co/3lm309U. Global average temperatures last year were 1.11C above the pre-industrial average, with the past seven years the hottest on record.The WMO’s warnings reflect the concern expressed by Australia's health organisations, who have called for Australia to reduce emissions and save lives. https://bit.ly/38CoH2WJust this week, doctors from Australian medical colleges, wrote to federal, state and territory leaders calling for Australia to replace coal power by 2030, warning that fossil fuel air pollution causes heart attacks, strokes and lung cancers. https://bit.ly/3yM7FKvBoth the Coalition and Labor parties have set emissions targets that fall short of Paris climate targets, while the Greens and most “teal” independents have adopted policies compatible with 1.5C of warming.Your vote should reflect an appropriate political response to the increasing risks posed by climate change which will continue to affect the health and wellbeing of every Australian. ... See MoreSee Less

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Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

4 days ago

John Menadue writes on Health ReformIn recent decades there have been numerous sensible proposals for health reform but in their self interest providers have invariably run them off the road. The public interest has been ignored time and time again. John Menadue outlines a number of steps to improve healthcare in Australia. ... See MoreSee Less

If I were the Minister for Health - Pearls and Irritations

johnmenadue.com

I would progressively wind back and eliminate the $14b pa taxpayer subsidy for Private Health Insurance and use that very large sum to fund the inclusion of dental care within Medicare and increase th...

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Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

6 days ago

Health and wellbeing should be a national goalThe Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has updated its election scorecard for 2022. PHAA is a non-partisan, non-governmental organisation. This scorecard reports on the alignment of each major party’s policies with the PHAA Federal Election Campaign seven key focus areas. https://bit.ly/3sCiCKwA survey was sent to the three major parties asking for their policy positions. PHAA has received written responses from the Liberal National Coalition, Labor, and the Greens. AHCRA has constantly drawn attention to the impact of the social determinants of health, the existential threat posed by global warming and the interrelationship between health and the economy. The benefits of universal public health has been demonstrated throughout the pandemic and it is clear that we need to build back better. https://bit.ly/3NiLU8SAs we emerge from the initial effects of the pandemic, we urge you to read the detailed responses on the PHAA scorecard in determining your vote this Saturday. ... See MoreSee Less

Scorecard - voteforpublichealth.com

voteforpublichealth.com

Valid as of 16/05/2022 PHAA is a non-partisan, non-governmental organisation. This scorecard reports on the alignment of each party’s policies with the PHAA Federal Election Campaign seven key focus...

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Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

1 week ago

Health of the Nation 2021The General Practice: Health of the Nation 2021 report underscores that GPs are more important than ever, and we need greater support to help communities manage the fallout from the pandemic.A great place to start would be putting general practice on a more sustainable, long-term financial footing. At a time when GPs are needed by our communities more than ever, the share of total government healthcare spend for primary care is in decline. Funding for GPs and general practice services is less than 8% of total health expenditure, yet they provide more than twice the number of episodes of care a year than hospitals, and all at one-sixth of the cost.Read the survey report here: https://bit.ly/3Mn9v8F ... See MoreSee Less

Message from the President

www.racgp.org.au

The RACGP’s Vision for general practice and a sustainable healthcare system outlines a model of care that addresses many of the nation’s healthcare challenges.

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Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

1 week ago

Healthcare Reform and the 2022 ElectionProfessor John Dwyer writes ..."... Around the world numerous examples of the benefits of individuals enrolling in a “Medical Home” wherein a multidisciplinary team provides health education, continuity of care , early intervention when health problems begin and extension of care into community and home settings, has been demonstrated. It is so frustrating that we are so underutilising the skills of the modern nurse who can play a pivotal role in Medical Homes. Don’t we all accept this model, of care for our new cars!We need Medicare to embrace the model and pay for the team. The cost savings from better health and reduced hospital admissions together with the resulting freeing up of some of the 11 billion dollars we spend on supporting private health insurance would more than pay for the program.Frustratingly, but an example of the problem we have with Commonwealth / State health responsibilities, is the response to the initiative (which would reduce hospital admissions” from some bureaucrats in Canberra is, “Well that would help the States not the Commonwealth”!These are the reforms we need to hear our would-be leaders embrace. So far however, health system reform has received scant attention..." ... See MoreSee Less

Healthcare reform is not featuring in the current election - Pearls and Irritations

johnmenadue.com

Australia’s public hospital system is having a hard time meeting the ever increasing demand for in-patient care. Of course a pandemic associated with a sudden and large demand for admission, and oft...

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Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

2 weeks ago

The Dream and the reality How good would it be to have a health system which delivered timely high quality care to everyone, with such a system emphasising the prevention of illness and promotion of health at every level to improve health, as well as potentially increasing productivity? How good would it be to have a society which recognised that poor health is frequently a result of structural inequalities? Even better, how good would it be to have leaders who shared such a vision? Dr Tim Woodruff writes ... ... See MoreSee Less

Our health system: The dream and the reality - Pearls and Irritations

johnmenadue.com

How would it be to have a health system which delivered timely high quality care to everyone, at every level of our society?

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Contact

Email: info@healthreform.org.au

General enquiries:
- Tim Woodruff
- Chair and Media Spokesperson
- Phone: 0401 042 619

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The Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA) is a coalition of peak health groups working towards a better health system for Australia’s future.