SPIRIT OF COOPERATION CONTINUES

The new spirit of co-operation between the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments, and determination to end the blame-game in health continued at the meeting of Australian Health Minsters’ Conference, ACT Minister for Health Katy Gallagher said today.

The major topics of discussion at the meeting in Melbourne were reform of the national health system and developing a new Australian Health Care Agreement.

All Ministers agreed that the forthcoming Australian Health Care Agreement was a major vehicle for reform.

"Today’s meeting continued the strong spirit of co-operation which has developed amongst Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments since the election of the Rudd Labor Government," Ms Gallagher said.

"In particular, there is now clear agreement between all Governments that the tendency of the previous Federal Government to treat primary care as separate from hospital care was the wrong approach and merely encouraged the ‘blame game’ to continue."

"Instead, all Governments are now working towards viewing the health system as one integrated model encompassing primary care, preventative care, aged care and hospital care."

"The first step in this reform program will be the new AHCA, as will the soon to be established National Health and Hospitals Reform Commissioner (NHHRC) which will play a major role in shaping and finalising the agreement."

The Commonwealth is now also inviting proposeals from the states and territories for Stage Two of the Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan.

The Commonwealth has previously indicated to the ACT that it will be amongst the priority jurisdictions when the $150 million worth of funding in this area is allocated.

"Stage two of the Commonwealth’s blitz is aimed at systematic improvements and increasing health infrastructure, something that will now be needed in the ACT if we are to continue to remove large amounts of people from the elective surgery waiting list," Ms Gallagher concluded