How was health reform developed?
Health and hospital reform is the product of significant engagement with health professionals, patients, state and territory governments and the Australian community. The Australian Government has considered the findings of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report, the draft National Primary Health Care Strategy, the 2010 Intergenerational Report, and the views expressed by the Australian people through an extensive consultation process to determine its final health reform.
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
The Australian Government set up the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC) in 2008 to conduct the most comprehensive review of Australia’s health system in 20 years. The NHHRC released its final report in July 2009, which provides 123 recommendations for reforms to our health system. The report recommends that the Australian Government focuses its health reform on three main goals:
- Tackling major access and equity issues that affect health outcomes for people now
- Redesigning our health system so that it is better positioned to respond to emerging challenges
- Creating an agile and self-improving health system for long-term sustainability.
Consultation with health professionals and the Australian people
During 2009 and 2010 the Prime Minister, Health Minister and other Government Ministers and officials held more than 100 consultations with health professionals and the Australian people on the NHHRC report’s recommendations. The yourHealth.gov.au website was also established to allow people to share their ideas, experiences and comments on the proposed changes to the health system. The website had more than 1 million visitors and more than 1,460 people made postings on the website. The Australian Government has listened to the views and advice put forward through the consultation process and has incorporated this feedback into the final health reform.Consultation with state and territory governments
The Australian Government also consulted with state and territory governments on the recommended improvements to the health system through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). At the COAG meeting in December 2009, governments in Australia agreed that long-term health reform was needed to provide better hospitals and better health care services for all Australian families.At their meeting in April 2010 the Commonwealth, state and territory governments (except for Western Australia) reached an historic agreement on health and hospitals reform – the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Network.
The communiqué from the COAG meeting held in December 2009 is available here.
The communiqué from the COAG meeting held in April 2010 is available here.
2010 Intergenerational Report
Another important source of expert information for health reform has been the 2010 Intergenerational Report. The report projected that Australian Government health spending will increase significantly in the future, due to population growth and ageing, increased demand for health services and the costs for new technology. This information has helped to inform the proposed improvements to productivity and financial sustainability outlined in health reform.The full report is available here.
More information about the consultation process is available:
More information about health reform is available at What is health reform?
What's happening
Privacy Impact Assessment on the PCEHR system
A detailed Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) into the PCEHR system has been undertaken by Minter Ellison Lawyers and Salinger Privacy. The PIA report made 112 recommendations.
Launch of the “Software Developers Resource Centre”
A new vendor portal has been launched by the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) and National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA).
Plain packaging legislation receives the Royal Assent
The Australian Government's world first legislation to require all tobacco to be sold in plain packaging received the Royal Assent on 1 December 2011.
