15 March 2024 Consumer Voices
Consumers Health Forum

In this edition of Consumer Voices:

  • Australian Government announcement about the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement
  • Watch recent webinar replays about Climate change and health and the Scope of Practice Review.  
  • Join a consumer panel for people who uise Life Suport Technology at home. 

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12 March 2024 Submission
Consumers Health Forum

At the heart of CHF’s policy agenda is consumer-centred care, which includes advocating for a consumer-centred Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process. CHF appreciates the opportunity to provide consumer insight into Consultation 2 of the Department of Health and Aged Care (DOHAC) Health Technology Assessment Review.

The content of these discussions is organised below in 5 topics, which mirror those presented in the HTA Consultation 2 Options Paper. The options paper can be found on the Office of Health Technology Assessment (OHTA) Consultation Hub: Policy and Methods Review - Consultation 2

CHF's submission was originally put forward to the HTA Review Reference Committee via an external survey run by company Bastion Designs, advertised via the Consultation Hub.

The document below presents the content of our submission, drafted in a way that is more accessible and easier to read.

29 February 2024 Consumer Voices
Consumers Health Forum

In this edition of Consumer Voices:

  • New medicinces released for 60-day prescriptions on 1 March 2024
  • CHF saddened by news that State Health Consumers Peak Body for Victoria announced it is closing on 7 March 2024.  
  • CEO, Elizabeth Deveny talks to the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP 

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14 February 2024 Consumer Voices
Consumers Health Forum

In this edition of Consumer Voices:

  • Consumers Health Forum visits Parliament House
  • CHF advocates for ‘Understanding Medicare – Understanding Your Health’ community education sessions across Australia. 
  • Patient-Reported Indicated Surveys (PaRIS) Report 

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1 February 2024 Consumer Voices
Consumers Health Forum

In this edition of Consumer Voices we:

  • Call for the Australian government to fund CHF to deliver public education on better understanding of how to use all the health services that Medicare provides
  • Share the Federal Budget submission for 2024-23
  • Summarise a panel discussion at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Helth Policy Forum

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30 January 2024 Submission
Consumers Health Forum

The prolonged rise in the cost-of-living has seen many Australians unable to keep up with their healthcare costs, which has resulted in many consumers reporting they are delaying seeking care. We know that when care is delayed it often results in poorer health outcomes for people and can also see people depend more on presenting to hospitals for emergency medicine.

A country like Australia must make sure that its citizens can receive healthcare, when and where they need it.

The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) believes that healthcare in Australia must be accessible, affordable and safe. While these measures are all important pillars of the Australian healthcare system, so too is fairness. People’s ability to access and afford healthcare should not be dependent on their bank balance or their postcode; we are confident this is something all Australians would agree on.

The themes of accessibility, affordability, safety and equity are the core principles on which CHF’s budget submission for 2024-25 has been developed. 

18 January 2024 Consumer Voices
Consumers Health Forum

In this edition of Consumer Voices we:

  • Share opportunities to hear CHF CEO, Elizabeth Deveny, speaking at both locally and internationally in coming weeks
  • Consumer opportunities to get involved in consultations, workshops and apply for positions on committees
  • Showcase CHF media appearances over the Christmas period

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15 January 2024 Submission
Consumers Health Forum

The Consumers Health Forum (CHF) has put forward a submission for the Medical Board of Australia's consultation on the recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine as a new field of specialty practice within the current specialty of General Practice. The consultation invites feedback on a joint application from the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). 

CHF supports the recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine which aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural and remote areas. However, we call for careful implementation, ongoing consumer engagement, and detailed evaluation strategies to help ensure benefits for rural and remote consumers.

4 January 2024 Submission
CHF

On 19 October 2023, the Senate referred an inquiry into the appropriate terms of reference for a COVID-19 Royal Commission. CHF is pleased to make this submission, highlighting consumer views and priorities, and advocating for their inclusion in the terms of reference.

12 December 2023 Fact Sheets
Consumers Health Forum

Consumers Health Forum held our Annual General Meeting for 2023 on 24 October via Zoom. The meeting was attended by twenty member representatives and members of the Board of Directors. 

AGM Minutes 2023 

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