The reform agenda

The Commonwealth Government is committed to reforming the health system during 2010. In mid-2009, the Government received three reports to help shape the reform agenda:

• The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
  
• The Primary Care Strategy
• The Preventative Health Taskforce
  

Many of the implications for patients and the profession will only be revealed as government begins to consider its response.

The Prime Minister consulted widely about the proposals contained in the Report before discussing the proposals with State Governments at a special meeting of the Council of Australian Governments to be held in December 2009. However, that CoAG meeting failed to come up with much more than a plan to develop a plan during 2010.

In September, the AMA released the Priority Investment Plan for Health, outlining the professions’ priorities.

The NHHRC report provides an opportunity to have a fundamental look at Australia’s health system. This is an opportunity for our profession to provide leadership in health.