ELECTION \'07: THE ISSUES - OUR HEALTH SYSTEM

ELECTION '07 Latest News Our Election Platform The Issues Our Candidates How-to-vote Democrats Get involved Words of Support WORDS of SUPPORT Robert Pask, Bronwyn Morkham & Alan Blackwood say: "The Democrats have been active advocates for disability and health issues over a long period..." Full details From A/Prof Hans Zoellner says: "Dentistry is a mess and needs urgent reform. Whoever wins Government, the Greens and Democrats will have an important job pressing for change." Full details  THE ISSUES Climate Change, Land & Water Our Health System Senate & Accountable Governance Workplace Relations - building a modern economy Helping Rural Australians Respecting Indigenous Australians Become a supporter and be notified as more issues are avaliable "The problem with health reform is that even when major redesign is necessary, many ‘reformers’ continue to think incrementally. Some believe that major redesign is impossible, that political timidity and acquiescence have become a way of life for many health ministers. They see the individual parts of the system working reasonably well, and fail to see that the system as a whole is inefficient and unfair.” John Menadue, Chair, Centre for Policy Development

Australia’s health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, duplication, cost shifting and buck passing between the governments and, as the Tasmanian hospital ‘rescue’ shows, too often used for political game-playing. The private health system has been fostered and heavily subsidised, increasing costs overall and drawing resources and health professionals away from the public system. The system lacks integration and is focused on hospitals and treatment for preventable conditions at the expense of prevention and primary care. Indigenous people, those in rural areas and on low incomes are not getting their fair share of the health dollar. Radical reform is needed, urgently. We are committed to a health system that is universally accessible, delivering high-quality services with efficiency. One that is setup for to meet the health challenges of the 21st century with an emphasis on prevention and primary care. We believe that Medicare is the fairest and most efficient way of delivering health care. Our 25 steps to a great health system The issues around our health system are complex.  For a detailed analysis please see our following Action Plans: Alcohol Carers  Community Care  Complementary Health  Dental Health  Euthanasia Health  Illicit Drugs Indigenous Health Medicare  Medicare Safety Nets  Men's Health  Mental health  Nursing  Pharmaceuticals  Residential Aged Care Rural Health Sexual and Reproductive Health Stem Cell Research Tobacco  Women's Health