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Saturday July 31, 2010

What we're talking about

Kevin Rudd's health reform policy

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 3 March, 2010 - 10:59 AM
Kevin Rudd

PLAYING NOW: Neil Mitchell has his say on Kevin Rudd and the government's soon-to-be-released health reform.

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UPDATE: $50 billion in GST revenue will be stripped from the states and the money will be directly invested into Australia's health system under the health reform policy revealed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today.

It's the biggest shake-up to health and hospital services since the introduction of Medicare.

A new body - the National Health and Hospitals Network - run by medical and financial prodessionals would distribute the money.

Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra, Prime Minister Rudd says it's about delivering better health care for patients.

However, a leading health bureaucrat fears the Rudd government's plan to fix the public hospital system will be an administrative nightmare.

The author of the health system reform report, Ken Baxter, agrees with the PM that the commonwealth should have greater control of hospital funding.

But he's warned if it's not implemented properly it'll be a minefield.

He says it'll make the emissions trading scheme and the scrapped insulation scheme pale in comparison.

Share your views below, particularly if you work in the health sector.


Blog comments Your Say

  • Can we really trust Rudd with this one too?? Isnt it just creating anothe rway to distribute the money i.e. same mony just differnt spender! How will this improve anything?? He really is a dreamer!

    alexas Tuesday 23 March, 2010 - 12:57 PM

  • I'm wondering if Remote and Regional Hospitals will be able to deliver the services needed on a local level under the new reform ? to be more specific will the Tennant Creek Hospital in the NT be facilitated and properly staffed for the delivery of babies - instead of heavily pregnant women having to travel 500kms 2 weeks before babies due date to stay in basic very unhomely like accommodation painfully waiting for their baby to be born most times without family support - inhume !!

    Kaye Holecek Tuesday 23 March, 2010 - 10:55 AM

  • Hiya,
    I used to work in the system as a nurse and left because of family and health reason's. last year my husband had an exploded appendix, which was twisted up behind his liver and had a cancer in it as well. before this was found out, he was made to sit in A&E for 6 hours and then sent home. I was furious..I got him to our GP who blasted the hosp.A&E and sent him back in an Ambulance. He was then made to lay for another 3 hours in front of people, no pain relief. I became very angry. Then I found out the so called doctor's were just interns running under one head doctor in A&E. OMG! My husband's life was at stake with unqualified doctor's in there...this is a hosp. Nth of Adelaide btw. THAT need's to be fixed!!!! My husband was so ill with appendicitis by this time they couldn't operate, he was jaundice looking because of their incompetence. So it too a week of three diff. anti-B's. Weare in Private now even though were on pension's..it's worth it..but very expensive.

    Trudy Wednesday 17 March, 2010 - 10:34 AM

  • Everyone should have equal access to health care services regardless of income level or areas of residence.

    Those who can afford private insurance can do so but the difference in services is only the choice of rooms or beds in hospitals (eg. a single bed room or 2-beded room), choice of doctors & surgeons, paid in-patient entertainment services etc.

    The rich are entitled to their frills and the poor is guaranteed basic and necessary health care.

    Elizabeth Goh Friday 12 March, 2010 - 2:18 PM

  • GOD HELP US IF RUDD STICKS HIS TWO DOLLARDS IN!!!!!!
    Yes the hospital system needs a good shake up, that I totally agree on, but there must be another way to get the hospital system sorted out.
    Maybe the hospital administration authorities should call for a Royal Commission and set out new rules and regulations.
    I have been waiting for a number of operations due to a serious vehicle accident that I was in back in 2006 and I have been on a waiting list since that year and still waiting.

    SBY Thursday 11 March, 2010 - 5:24 PM

  • Neil,

    Two things are more likely than death or taxes.

    1) Hospital bed demand growth will keep outstripping hospital bed supply growth.

    2) Healthcare costs will keep growing faster than general CPI.

    So what to do?

    Compulsory exercise for every child under 18 in full-time education?

    Higher Medicare charges and health insurance premiums for smokers?

    We're getting fatter, older, sicker (eg diabetes) and somehow changing the public hospital funding mix is meant to solve this?

    I don't think so...

    Smokers should be given Quit smoking programs, a free visit to a GP and then have to pay double the Medicare levy and much higher health insurance premiums.

    What's required is 'stick' to go alone with the health insurance rebate carrot to force people to be responsible for their self-induced medical costs.

    Jonathan Crabtree
    Founder http://HealthInsuranceHounds.com

    Jonathan Crabtree Thursday 11 March, 2010 - 4:10 PM

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