Almost 20 consumer health organisations have come together today in Parliament House to form the Coalition for Preventative Health Funding, which is calling on the 48th Parliament to invest more on Australia's preventative health.
Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) CEO, Dr. Elizabeth Deveny, emphasised the rationale behind forming the Coalition: "Our members and sector partners have consistently highlighted the urgent need for greater funding in preventive health. While many politicians express agreement during our discussions in Parliament, this support rarely translates into substantial investment in community-based preventive health measures on Budget night."
Preventive health approaches not only enhance the overall health of communities but also reduce non-urgent medical visits. Prevention empowers consumers with the knowledge and tools to make informed health decisions. These preventative strategies can be transformative for some - changing their lifelong health needs. Although the Government has made commitments and released various strategies, which have included a pledge to eventually spend 5% of the health Budget on preventative health, there remains a lack of sufficient funding to help Australians keep themselves well.
Dr Deveny explained "We know Australians want to stay well and avoid getting sick in the first place. If the Government adequately funded preventive measures, we could ensure the right tools and resources are activated in our communities at the right time and in the right way."
"Communities should also have a say in where and how these preventative investments are spent. COVID-19 taught us that a one-size-fits-all approach to health promotion and prevention simply doesn't work." emphasised Dr Deveny.
This coalition of leading Australian consumer health organisations have all jointly agreed four key asks:
- The Australian Government and the 48th parliament commit to 5% of the health Budget being spent on prevention.
- The Coalition is engaged in a co-design/advisory capacity about how the funding should be spent.
- The 5% funding flows through to Coalition Members to do prevention work with their communities.
- The Commonwealth fund a Secretariat component to help administer the Coalition.
Dr Elizabeth Deveny announced "The Coalition's goal is to amplify the voices of consumers, giving Australians and their communities greater opportunities to stay healthy and productive.
Today we invite all Members of Parliament and Senators to join us in addressing a fundamental healthcare issue in Australia. We call on all parliamentarians to show us their support in helping keep their communities well. The best way this can be done is through preventative health."
"We want to ensure the voice of consumers are heard and that representatives are listening, and we feel like there is no better way to do that than launching this coalition in Parliament House," said Dr Deveny.
Coalition Members are:
- Emerge Australia
- Chronic Pain Australia
- Arthritis Australia
- Hepatitis Australia
- Health Consumers' Council WA
- Health Consumers QLD
- Consumers Health Forum of Australia
- Dementia Australia
- Inherited Cancers Australia
- Immune Deficiencies Foundation Australia
- Health Equity Matters
- Macular Disease Foundation Australia
- Crohn's and Colitis Australia
- Genetic Alliance Australia
- Health Consumers Tasmania
- Breast Cancer Network Australia
- Health Care Consumers' Association of the ACT
- Cancer Voices NSW
