Media releases

Discounts on health insurance premiums for young people under 30 would erode the community-sharing principles of private cover, further entrenching a two-tiered system, the Consumers Health Forum said today. In its submission to the Senate Community Affairs Community inquiry into health insurance...

The Consumers Health Forum welcomes the Government’s announcement that it will amend the My Health Record Act to strengthen safeguards to protect security and certainty of personal medical records. “The announcement last night by Health Minister Greg Hunt of legislative changes states that no MHR...

The need for a strong primary health care system which is so important in the lives of millions of Australians with chronic illness should be a central focus of all political parties at the next federal election, the Consumers Health Forum says. “Too often the value of primary health care delivered...

The Consumers Health Forum welcomes the statement by the Prime Minister and Minister Hunt that the Government will move to address concerns about protection of privacy under the My Health Record. “The success of MHR relies very much on people’s trust that their medical information will be protected...

Australians should not lose sight of the great potential benefits of the My Health Record in the current debate about the provisions for opting out of My Health Record. “There may well be issues of real concern about the privacy and security of MHR and these must be resolved if the development is...

Lifting the single Newstart payment by $75 a week would yield widespread health benefits for disadvantaged Australians, and the evidence supporting such a move is contained in the Government’s own publication, Australia’s health 2018 , the Consumers Health Forum said today. “We support the ACOSS...

The potential of My Health Record to transform the health care system in Australia will depend on consumers taking an active role in ensuring the system works for them in a way they can trust, the Consumers Health Forum said today. “Over the next three months Australians will be able to check the...

The Consumers Health Forum today introduces an innovative online mechanism to gauge community trust in health apps, the rapidly growing component of modern health care. Australia’s Health Panel is CHF’s new online platform which will survey consumers on the health issues that matter. The first...

The revelation that the doctor appointments company, HealthEngine, has reportedly shared hundreds of patient details with law firms raises disturbing questions about the potential hazards surrounding the privacy and security of on line medical information and of the need for consumer privacy...

The top priority Australians give to good health care and public hospitals should remind our political leaders that there is still much to be achieved on the health front, the Consumers Health Forum says. A national survey commissioned by the authoritative CEDA organisation shows that Australians...