The enduring strand that threads through our pre-budget submission is the call on Government to accept health funding as an investment that pays dividends of a healthier nation and healthier economy. The notion that health expenditure is a cost never to be recouped is not supported by the evidence. As we have seen through the pandemic, disease and fear of disease carries huge costs in lost productivity for the economy that are only turned around by a healthy population and the confidence that inspires. So our budget proposals support a wellness and “health in all policies” approach that argues for broad social positives such as sustainable income support and public housing along with measures that will build our capability for better health and care. Our budget policy pitch ranges across numerous parts of the health system, from continuing support for the Youth Health Forum to reflect the growing voices of the future, to an increase for the Health Peak and Advisory Bodies Program to counter recent funding cuts to important community health organisations. There is a rising imperative for informed consumer leadership to complement and balance the powerful provider and commercial influences in health. That’s why we are pushing for funding of a fresh initiative: to establish an Australian Consumer Leadership Academy with the objective of developing a pipeline of consumer leaders with the skills and expertise to occupy high level positions in the health system. This goes to a central role of CHF to advocate for consumers and for more efficient and effective health care and policy. One area where CHF is collaborating with health professionals is in pressing for the development of more effective health practices enabled by social prescribing and we are arguing for that to be included in the 10-year Primary Health Care Plan. We also call on the Federal Government to increase investment in primary health with the first step to increase the Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates for Primary Health services, for General Practitioners and others with the aim of at least restoring the real value of the rebates. Oral and Dental Care is another key area of long-sought public funding and CHF calls for a move to a universal dental health scheme, starting with the establishment of a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme. On COVID, we argue that the Government should ensure that with all pandemic testing and treatment services cost in not a barrier to access. And we advocate for the establishment, like other countries, of a Centre for Disease Control to equip us with the knowledge to counter epidemics. That would certainly be a living investment paying dividends into the future. |
