‘Just as a good clinician listens to their patient’: The nation urged to listen to Indigenous Voice for health equity

Pharma News: In a display of advocacy for improved Indigenous health outcomes, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, alongside Indigenous leader Tanya Hosch and former Vice President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Dr Chris Moy, convened to discuss the potential impact of a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament for First Nations people.

Minister Butler underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that the health sector is particularly significant in the context of advocating for a constitutional Voice to the Parliament, as it addresses the profound disparities in health outcomes experienced by Indigenous Australians.

A collective and diverse force of over 125 health organisations – including Amgen, Bayer, Sanofi, Royal College of Surgeons (RACS), Johnson and Johnson, Merck Healthcare, Catholic Health Australia, Medicines Australia and MTAA – have released a public letter voicing their unequivocal support for the upcoming referendum on October 14. Their resolute backing stems from a profound understanding of the persistent disadvantages faced by First Nations people in the realm of health, a truth witnessed daily within the healthcare community.

Minister Butler stressed that health is a critical policy focus where a Voice to the Parliament holds exceptional value. Despite substantial investments and well-intentioned efforts, reports consistently reveal a distressing health gap and disparity in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

In fact, the recent data from the Productivity Commission reveals improvements in closing the life expectancy gap for First Nation’s people, but it indicates that the target for 2031 will not be met. Acknowledging the current approach’s shortcomings, Minister Butler advocated for a new approach, likening it to the careful listening a doctor employs in understanding a patient’s needs for optimal treatment.

Tanya Hosch, representing the YES23 campaign, echoed Minister Butler’s sentiments, underscoring the urgent need to bridge the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. She emphasised that the constitutional amendment, recognising the First Peoples for the first time, was more than symbolic. It held practical potential through the proposed Voice to Parliament, promising to amplify Indigenous voices based on lived experiences and cultural insights, ultimately fortifying the nation’s health system.

Dr Chris Moy, speaking on behalf of the AMA and the extensive network of supporting health organisations, stressed the pivotal role a constitutional Voice could play in rectifying the healthcare crisis that disproportionately affects Indigenous communities. Drawing parallels between the challenges faced by his patients and the broader Indigenous community, Dr Moy emphasised the need for effective communication and listening, highlighting the transformative potential of a constitutionally enshrined Voice.

The support from the AMA has been criticised by Liberal Senator Gerard Renick who said the organisation is playing “identity politics”.

“You’d think with the health crisis in this country the AMA would be lobbying the government to sort out waiting lists, ambulance ramping and the shortage of frontline workers, but no playing identity politics is more important,” he said.

Responding to concerns about the success of the YES campaign, where a 20% decline in voter support for the campaign over the past 12 months has been noted, Minister Butler refocused the conversation on the fundamental purpose of the referendum: acknowledging and honouring the place of First Nations people in Australia.

He urged Australians to unite and vote YES, highlighting the pride that should accompany living in a nation with the world’s oldest continuously surviving culture. Ultimately, the referendum represents an opportunity to effect lasting positive change in the lives and health of Indigenous Australians, fostering a more equitable and just society.

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