‘We’re sick of talk. It’s time for action. It’s time for real health reform’ says Consumers Health Forum

Pharma News: Australian consumers need to have a real voice in designing and influencing changes to Medicare and other primary health reforms. 

Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) has initiated a petition to The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer, to support consumers “so they get a seat at the table and can get their voices heard.”

Dr Elizabeth Deveny, CEO of CHF, said “The voices of those experiencing health disadvantage are rarely at the table. Australians fund the health system through their taxes, their out of pocket costs, their health insurance, their medication bills and more. We, the payers, the patients, the carers and consumers, need to have stronger representation every time a decision is made that impacts on our health and our wallets. The time for talk is over. I want action now. It’s time!”

According to the petition, the number one priority for consumers is affordable, timely access to a GP. That means no, or lower, out-of-pocket costs. People shouldn’t have to choose between paying for medical care or paying the mortgage. For too long the healthcare debate has been dominated by lobby groups that represent health professionals such as doctors and pharmacists. It’s all about what they want, not what is best for consumers.

One consumer said “Medicare needs a revamp. Costs in accessing health care are too high especially for people on low incomes” and another commented “Patient-centred is unfortunately a myth. We are at the bottom of the list. We are absent from most tables and most important discussions.”

At a recent debate during the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) congress, Dr Deveny highlighted that from the consumer perspective “healthcare is becoming more unaffordable, more inaccessible and almost unnavigatable. So you end up with people who delay care. Funding models need to support the healthcare of consumers. Consumers don’t really care who’s paying. They just want to know it’s not them, because they’ve paid enough through private health insurance and tax.”

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called on the federal government to finally implement the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommendation made 5 years ago to increase maximum dispensed quantities of selected PBS items from one month’s supply to two month’s supply.

However, at the time, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia had strong financial incentives to reject the PBAC recommendation as it would have reduced dispensing fees and contributed to less foot traffic through retail pharmacies.

If this change is implemented, it will provide consumers both financial and convenience benefits, in addition to reducing the burden on GPs.

In reimagining healthcare, Health Industry Hub^TM is the ONLY one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change. The exclusive leadership and influencer podcasts and vodcasts offer unparalleled insights and add immense value to our breaking news coverage.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.