Australia's pre-eminent voice for health care consumers, the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), congratulates Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party on their election win.
During the election campaign CHF advocated to all parties several health and social care measures to address the issues of most concern to people.
"Our priorities included better access to affordable primary care and medicines, investment in preventive health, subsidised dental care and enhanced structures to improve consumer participation in decision making" CHF CEO Leanne Wells said.
"We look forward to working with the incoming Health Minister as well as Ministers with portfolio responsibilities that impact on health outcomes."
"We welcome the government's Strengthening Medicare initiative and associated measures such as the urgent care clinics. We particularly welcome the inclusion of CHF in the implementation taskforce chaired by the Minister to advise on priorities for implementation."
"Improved access to GP-led multidisciplinary teams, greater patient affordability and support for better self-management of chronic conditions warrants major investment: it is essential for a high-performing health system" said Ms Wells.
"We also look forward to seeing the commencement of the $12.50 cut from the costs of prescriptions for PBS listed medications."
The resumption of the review of the National Medicines Policy and advancing various programs related to quality use of medicines are also important.
"Making medicines more affordable as the costs of living bites and ensuring the National Health Priority Area of medicines safety and quality has programs devoted to it are priorities" said Ms Wells.
The promise to establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control to lead ongoing pandemic preparedness, coordinate responses to future infectious disease outbreaks and work towards prevention of both chronic and infectious disease is vital to our future health infrastructure.
"On behalf of our members and consumer representatives from across the country, CHF looks forward to working with the new government to improve health care access and affordability for the community."
