National Health Reform

A Healthier Future for all Australians - Final Report June 2009

7.5 Conclusions

This chapter has focused on practical issues of implementation, considering an implementation plan for our recommended reforms, and the financial implications of the reforms. We have highlighted the urgency of reform and argued that the implementation of reforms should begin immediately. We have also estimated the recurrent and capital costs of our reforms, while pointing out that, over the medium to long term, our reforms are estimated to reduce projected growth in spending on health and aged care.

Some may query the wisdom of undertaking significant reform of health care, and incurring increased expenditure, at a time when Australia’s economy and government outlays are under pressure from a global financial downturn.

But a healthy population and an efficient and effective health care system are essential to maximising the wellbeing of our nation, and the productivity of our economy and workforce.²³¹

Our recommendations for reform are aimed at achieving an improved distribution of resources to provide more efficient and effective health care over the next five to ten years. Improving the performance of a sector that represents a tenth of our economy – and which is expected to grow to become an eighth of our economy in the next twenty years – is essential to proper economic management.

Furthermore, we believe that there is also a cost in not pursuing our recommendations – a cost in terms of the forgone improvements in health status and in equity of health outcomes, and of a less efficient, less responsive health care system, that is also less well prepared for the challenges of the future.

As the reform plan is further refined and put into action, we strongly urge that governments continue to consult with and involve health services, health professionals and the community more widely. There is an enthusiasm and readiness for change that, if constructively harnessed, can ensure Australians continue to enjoy one of the best health systems in the world.

²³¹Business Council of Australia (2009), Submission 233 to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission: Second Round Submissions.