New National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
The Federal Government has announced the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, which will develop a long-term health reform plan for a modern Australia.
It will provide an interim report on a long-term health reform plan to the Commonwealth Government by the end of 2008, and a final plan in mid 2009.
Hospital administrator and clinician, and currently chief medical officer of health fund MBF Australia, Dr Christine Bennett, will chair the 10 member Commission and other members have been selected to represent the vast range of experiences within the Australian health system.
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission will provide a blueprint for tackling future challenges in the Australian health system including:
• The rapidly increasing burden of chronic disease;
• The ageing of the population;
• Rising health costs; and
• Inefficiencies exacerbated by cost shifting and the blame game.
The Commission will focus on health financing, maximising a productive relationship between public and private sectors, and improving rural health.
The other nine Commissioners are:
• Rob Knowles, former Victorian Liberal Health Minister;
• Geoff Gallop, former Premier of Western Australia;
• Mukesh Haikerwal, Melbourne GP and immediate past-president of the Australian Medical Association;
• Stephen Duckett, health economist and former Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health;
• Ron Penny, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of NSW;
• Sabina Knight, senior lecturer, Centre for Remote Health and remote area nurse;
• Sharon Willcox, director of consulting firm Health Policy Solutions;
• Justin Beilby, executive dean of the University of Adelaide’s Medical School; and
• Mary Ann O’Loughlin, director, The Allen Consulting Group.
The Commission will report to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and through her to the Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, and to the Council of Australian Governments and the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference.
The Commission will advise the Government on the key aspects of the framework for the next health care agreements between the commonwealth and the states and territories.
