Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia's First National Primary Health Care Strategy
Introduction
This Draft National Primary Health Care Strategy (the Draft Strategy) provides a road map to guide future policy and practice in primary health care in Australia. It represents the first comprehensive policy statement for primary health care in Australia’s history.
The Draft Strategy presents the Australian Government’s views on possible future directions for a modern 21st century primary health care system. It has been prepared by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, assisted by an External Reference Group of primary health care experts chaired by Dr Tony Hobbs and informed by discussion with state and territory health departments. It has been informed by the 265 submissions received in response to the Discussion Paper: Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy.
The Draft Strategy is accompanied by a Report: Primary Health Care Reform in Australia – Report to Support Australia’s First National Primary Health Care Strategy (the Report). The Report provides detailed information about the issues that emerged during the consultation process that accompanied the development of the Draft Strategy, sets out the broader context in which primary health care in Australia operates and has developed and describes many of the challenges which the Draft Strategy aims to address. The Report is designed to be read in conjunction with the Draft Strategy.