New AMA Vision for Australia's Health Vision launched and applauded by Minister for Health and Aged Care.
The AMA's new Vision for Australia's Health was launched at the AMA's national conference last week, with AMA President Professor Steve Robson saying it was "a blueprint for transforming Australia's health system", at a time when it is facing unprecedented challenges.
Professor Robson told the audience Australia's health system is at a tipping point, with patients struggling as hospitals critically overloaded, and a tide of chronic disease threatening to overwhelm all parts of the system.
But he said there was much to be positive about and that with the right imperative and a collective willingness, remarkable change could happen and could happen quickly.
"The pandemic put health at the forefront of decision making, and it showed all of us that without a good health system, we can't function as individuals or as a society," Professor Robson said.
"And there's also much to remain positive about. As the AMA's next president, Dr Danielle McMullen, said recently, we're seeing two very important things from leaders: a willingness to engage on issues and talk about solutions, and recognition that support is needed for our excellent doctors and other healthcare workers."
Professor Robson told the conference 'action' was perhaps the most important word in the AMA's Vision.
"I can assure everyone here the AMA's vision for Australia's Health will not sit on a shelf for us. It's our blueprint for advocacy over the next three years."
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler congratulated the AMA on the Vision saying "there is a hell of a lot of good policy in there."
Of the Vision, the minister said: "I'm hopeful that it will continue to shape the public debate and the understanding among other leaders of our country, beyond the health portfolio, about what we need to do to continue our performance in health."
Minister Butler said he came to the conference "as a partner in reform and that the AMA and government had achieved a lot in two years.
"But already in two short years, as a Government and as an organisation and as a sector more broadly, I think we have achieved a lot together," Minister Butler said.
"The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce did help to set the direction for that reform.
"Out of it, just as one small example, came the $48 million Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme that the AMA has been advocating for, for a very long time. It will provide fully subsidised wound consumables for people aged 65 and over and for First Nations people 50 and over, who have chronic wound conditions and diabetes."
Minister Butler noted the AMA's "principled support" of 60-day dispensing saying the AMA's "really strong advocacy for that reform" had helped the government "implement 60-day scripts, with the final tranche of around 100 medicines joining the 200 already on the 60-day script list, in just a few weeks."
The alliance of public health groups including the AMA had also helped get Australia's tough new vaping laws over the line, the minister said.
"Thanks to the advocacy and support of groups like the AMA, Australia right now finally has the proper legal framework for this product in place," Minister Butler said.
"And I particularly want to thank Steve for the really enthusiastic, energetic way in which he participated in this - at times - quite difficult public debate."
Minister Butler also singled out the AMA as being crucial to continuing reform calling for the AMA's collaboration in coming months on the upcoming release of the Working Better for Medicare Review, the Effectiveness Review and the Independent Scope of Practice Review.
"As we build a strong and sustainable workforce for medical practitioners and the broader heath workforce, we will continue our strong engagement with the AMA, to seek out your advice, your experience and the wisdom of your members about how we deal with these really, really difficult challenges."
