This week we welcomed recommendations from the Covid-19 Response Inquiry Report and a renewed focus on getting Australia's CDC up and running.
The Covid-19 Response Inquiry Report, released this week, recommended the development of catch-up strategy to address the country's concerning planned surgery backlog and called for action on preventive health.
The AMA's annual public hospital report cards have highlighted the worsening performance of our public hospitals, with people waiting too long to get essential surgery. Many others struggle to even see a specialist to get on a waiting list. Meanwhile people are waiting too long in emergency departments.
The report's recommendation for a national plan to address surgery waiting lists reflects calls we have made through our Clear the hospital logjam campaign .
We also welcomed the report's recommendation for additional funding and an implementation strategy to re-engage regional, rural and remote and other high-risk populations in preventive care to help address undiagnosed cases of cancer, diabetes and other illnesses.
This need is highlighted in the AMA's Vision for Australia's Health which calls for an attitude shift in Australian health policy. Our Vision offers a blueprint to transform our health system into one that values prevention as much as treatment.
The government also announced additional funding for the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC). For many years, the AMA has been the flag bearer in calling for an Australian CDC and we've been concerned implementation of the CDC had stalled. The renewed focus from the federal government and additional funding is very welcome. We are now calling on states and territory governments to get behind the CDC to ensure Australia is equipped to tackle the next pandemic.
A CDC can help ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic, including greater effort to ensure the health and well being of health care workers at the front line.
