ALP Men’s Health Policy
ALP Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has announced that a Rudd Labor Government would develop a National Men’s Health Policy.
Australia’s first – and to date, only – National Women’s Health Policy was launched under a previous Labor Government in 1989, but a National Men’s Health Policy is needed to deal with issues affecting men’s health.
Federal Labor acknowledges that too little attention has been given to men’s health needs.
Some health issues – like prostate cancer – affect only men while other health issues – such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and injuries – affect more men than women.
Australian men have a lower life expectancy and greater levels of serious morbidity than women. Many also tend to defer or ignore health issues – as reflected in lower use of health services.
The men’s health policy will be developed in consultation with state and territory governments, health service providers, consumer and advocacy groups and Australian men.
The policy will be particularly focused on reducing barriers that men experience in accessing health services, tackling widespread reticence amongst men to seek treatment, improving male-friendly health services and raising awareness of the range of preventable health problems that disproportionately affect men and which result in generally poorer health outcomes for Australian men.
Labor’s National Men’s Health Policy will also address specific groups of men who experience higher morbidity and mortality rates, including Indigenous men and men living in rural and remote communities.
