News & Media

The average 3.25 per cent rise in health insurance premiums announced today brings a respite from the higher increases of previous years and it is to be hoped will be accompanied by an easing in out of pocket costs incurred by insured consumers, the Consumers Health Forum says. While the rise in...

While the additional $500 million in Federal funding to strengthen and reform primary care in the community is welcome, the Government needs to put more focus on preventive health measures which could deliver great health benefits at modest cost, the Consumers Health Forum says. Responding to...

A new report showing that high rates of caesareans and infant medication are placing some infants in Australia at risk of avoidable health problems highlights the importance of ensuring treatment and care is based on best available medical evidence, the Consumers Health Forum says. The Third...

A vibrant voice advocating for consumers is vital to a modern, effective health system and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia welcomes the announcement by the Health Minister, Greg Hunt, of funding for the next three years. “Consumers are exerting an ever more important role in shaping the...

Australia’s health system takes a significant step forward now that Parliament has resolved questions concerning security and privacy of the My Health Record, the Consumers Health Forum says. Australians have until 31 January 2019 to choose to opt out of the personal electronic health record and...

Advances in health care are driving the demand for more effective recognition of patient and consumer-driven health policies for individually-focused services in Australia. This is the finding of a white paper, Shifting Gears – Consumers Transforming Health , released by the Consumers Health Forum...

A national Youth Health Forum has issued a call to action, pressing for more effective services focused on the specific needs of young Australians, particularly in mental health. In a statement released today, 15 November, the Youth Health Forum has proposed immediate steps to strengthen the voice...

Consumer-driven and translational research has been identified as one of the top priorities for Australian medical researchers, an innovation that the Consumers Health Forum heartily welcomes as a breakthrough for the health system. This step forward, announced in the Medical Research Future Fund’s...

The Consumers Health Forum has welcomed the Government’s proposed further reforms to the My Health Record legislation but has called for an extension of next week’s deadline for the full-scale introduction of MHR to give time for debate and settle the significant issues affecting public support of...