Australian Medical Association Limited
ABN 37 008 426 793
42 Macquarie Street, Barton ACT 2600: PO Box 6090, Kingston ACT 2604
Telephone: (02) 6270 5400 Facsimile (02) 6270 5499
HEALTH REFORM TOO IMPORTANT FOR FURTHER DELAYS
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) had failed to meet widespread expectations that it would reveal some signs of national
consensus on meaningful health reform.
Dr Pesce said the health system is under extreme pressure and further delays in reform would
exacerbate existing problems, especially in public hospitals.
“The COAG Communiqué states that COAG agreed that long-term health reform was required
to deliver better services for patients and the Commonwealth would put specific proposals to
the States in the first half of 2010,” Dr Pesce said.
“People are losing confidence because the timeframes keep changing and getting put back.
“We can only tolerate further delays if we can get some assurances that solutions are being
considered that will actually fix our deteriorating system.
“Our governments must give a firm indication of the direction and extent of the health reform
that is being developed.
“There was extra money announced to relieve elective surgery waiting times, which is
welcome, but this will not bring about long term improvement in our hospitals.
“Major structural reform is needed.
“The AMA wants the Commonwealth to be the single national funder of public hospitals, with
the States to continue the day-to-day management of the hospitals.
“We need urgent action to build our health workforce, especially our medical workforce, to
meet growing need from an ageing population and more people suffering complex and chronic
diseases.
“We must cut the enormous amount of red tape that is strangling efficiency and productivity in
the health system.
“Governance and decision making in our hospitals must be based on the advice of the doctors
and nurses who work at the coalface.
“The Australian people expect significant health reform to improve their access to quality
health services – and they expect it soon,” Dr Pesce said.
7 December 2009
CONTACT:
John Flannery
02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Peter Jean
02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
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