If you've had time to glance at the newspaper this morning you will notice that A Healthier Future for All Australians : Final Report, has been released today by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, chaired by Dr Christine Bennett. 10 health experts have taken 16 months to compile 123 recommendations, arguing that "While the Australian health system has many strengths, it is a system under growing pressure, particularly as the health needs of our population change. We face significant challenges, including large increases in demand for and expenditure on health care, unacceptable inequities in health outcomes and access to services, growing concerns about safety and quality, workforce shortages, and inefficiency. Further, we have a fragmented health system with a complex division of funding responsibilities and performance accountabilities between different levels of government. It is ill-equipped to respond to these challenges."
The recommendations include a full Federal Government takeover of primary health care, basic dental care and aged care, and that Medicare undergoes sweeping reforms. There are also changes proposed in the way hospital services are funded, with the aim being that the Federal Government takes on the financial risks associated with growth in demand, and provides strong incentives for more efficient care.
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