Australian hospitals need to release more records on patient safety and treatment outcomes in the interests of driving better care, the Consumers Health Forum says. A new report issued today (Wednesday) by the Grattan Institute, finds that while hospitals routinely collect large amounts of data on...

Key medical, hospital pharmacy and consumer groups are disappointed with the lack of public commitment shown by Health Ministers to uniformly back the Therapeutic Goods Administration decision to upschedule codeine-containing products to prescription-only from 1 February 2018.

Joint release from the RACP, painaustralia, RDAA, RACGP, CHF and SHPA Australia’s health ministers meeting tomorrow (Friday) must put people’s health first and resist pressure to water down codeine safety measures, an alliance of medical, pharmacy and consumer organisations has urged. “We are...

The Treasurer’s recognition of the importance to the economy of integrated, patient-centred health care injects fresh impetus to drive effective health reforms, the Consumers Health Forum says. “Australia can get much better value out of health spending by ensuring a patient-centred focus that...

High quality after hours medical services are central to universal health care available under Medicare and moves to change present arrangements need to be developed with caution, the Consumers Health Forum says. “The Consumers Health Forum is concerned that while the Government may act to reduce...

The launch of a national standard of care for women experiencing heavy menstrual breeding is a much-needed development for the many women who struggle with this condition, the Consumers Health Forum said. “This step by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is welcome...

Medical and health consumer advocates have published an open letter to state and territory Health Ministers, warning that any changes to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) plan to make codeine prescription-only will put health and lives at risk.

The wide-ranging health insurance reforms announced today deliver a welcome response to consumer dissatisfaction with the current pitfalls of private health cover, the Consumers Health Forum says. “The Government’s health insurance reforms appear likely to deliver not only lower premium increases...

A joint statement by the Consumers Health Forum, Australian Hospitals and Healthcare Association, CHOICE, Public Health Association of Australia and the National Rural Health Alliance. As the organisations who represent Australia’s health consumers and advocate in the interests of the Australian health care system, we call on the Government to ensure its proposed reforms to health insurance benefit ALL Australians.

While the overwhelming majority of middle-aged and older Australians are happy with their GP, as shown in a new national Survey of Health Care, its findings on cost and other barriers underline gaps in care and the need for a better-connected health system. “The Australian Bureau of Statistics...