A Victorian Greens motion calling on Labor to rescue cohealth with an emergency funding package has just passed the Victorian Parliament.
Labor must now act on the Parliament's resolution and commit the funding needed for cohealth to continue to provide its free and affordable wrap-around health services.
Labor has been under growing pressure from the community and the Greens for ignoring calls to properly fund cohealth for years.
As a result, earlier this month, cohealth announced it would end its GP and counselling services in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington in December, and close its Collingwood clinic permanently in 2026. This is set to leave over 12,500 people stranded without adequate healthcare and will likely push these people into our already over-run hospital system.
The Greens' motion called on Labor in the Parliament to commit to a funding package by the end of November, including $4 million dollars to save GP and counselling services and at least $25 million dollars to upgrade and retain the Collingwood health centre. It also called on the State Government to negotiate with the Federal Government for a long-term sustainable funding model to support the complex health and social services that community health is uniquely placed to deliver.
Community health receives only 0.3% of the state's health infrastructure funding - even though they're proven to keep people out of hospital and deal with some of the most complex health matters, saving the state $14 for every $1 invested. To continue to play their important role in our health ecosystem, Infrastructure Victoria has recommended that community health funding increase to 3%.
For years, cohealth, the health sector and the Greens have been calling on a different model of funding for the complex, time-consuming service that community health provides, that differs significantly from the fast-paced, bulk-billing services in the private sector.
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
"Over 12,000 people are about to lose their doctor because state and federal Labor have so far refused to stump up the money to save cohealth. This will push more people into our already over-run hospitals - which is more expensive for the state government in the long-run. It makes no sense. Labor must now respect the will of the Parliament and commit to funding an emergency package to save these vital health services for our communities."
As stated by Victorian Greens Member for Richmond, Gabrielle de Vietri MP:
"Labor knows the community is watching and that they expect them to deliver. I welcome this outcome, but cautiously. Now Labor must follow through for our community and fund the emergency package. We won't let up until they do - Labor has promised cohealth funding before and went back on its word.
Cohealth has been sounding the alarm for years: underfunded services, crumbling buildings. The obligation to support community health is squarely on the State and Federal Labor Governments - but for too long they've both shirked responsibility.
If Labor still fails to cough up this will be a turning point - and Labor will bear the shame of creating more poverty, poor health, homelessness, and hospital overcrowding in our communities. We simply cannot afford to lose cohealth."
