Policy and Advocacy Library
The library is the culmination of the collaborative work of RACP members and comprises a comprehensive range of evidence-based, published RACP position statements, policies and submissions.
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Description
The RACP submitted feedback to the Health Select Committee on the Medicines Amendment Bill. The RACP supports a number of measures outlined in the Medicines Amendment Bill, including the new medicines verification pathway, but has a number of concerns about proposed expansion of prescribing unapproved medicines. Initiatives to improve access to medicines need to be part of a broader range of activities to ensure necessary access to specialist care.
Description
This submission provides feedback to the Tasmanian Government’s proposed changes to interstate prescribing, which would allow Tasmanian pharmacists to dispense certain prescriptions that currently they cannot dispense.
The submission expresses cautious support for the proposal to allow Tasmanian pharmacists to dispense medicines prescribed by out of state prescribers. It notes concerns related to opioids, stimulants, care coordination and follow up, telehealth, workforce, and the need for proper resourcing of Tasmanian services to meet demand.
Description
The NSW Government must prioritise early intervention, integrated services, and clearer access pathways to improve outcomes for children and young people with disabilities, reduce family stress, and create a more inclusive, equitable system. To address this, the RACP urges sustainable funding, workforce development, and stronger cross-sector collaboration—including with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations—to make services more accessible, culturally responsive, and aligned with national early intervention strategies.
Description
The RACP’s Māori Health Committee with input from Policy and Advocacy and Professional Practice provided feedback to Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health on its consultation on regulatory settings related to the health workforce. The College strongly opposed proposals to reduce cultural requirements in hiring decisions highlighting that cultural aspects of care impact clinical care. The RACP called for thorough consultation with physicians before considering regulating Physician Assistant roles. The RACP also highlighted suggestions to improve expediting the recognition of qualifications for Overseas Trained Physicians and the importance of focusing on retention.
Description
The RACP submitted to Hīkina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in April on their proposed Government Procurement Rules 5th edition, 2025. The College noted its concern regarding the failure to mention of climate change within the Procurement Plan and the removal of Living Wage requirements.
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
This information has been developed by The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) for parents who are considering circumcision of their male infant. The information relates to circumcision of male infants, which is defined as the first 12 months of life (the infant period) with a focus on the newborn period (the first 28 days of life).
Description
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) provided evidence in a submission to He Pou a Rangi | Climate Change Commission to contribute to the upcoming National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) 2026. The NCCRA is produced every six years, identifies the most significant risks – assessing their nature, severity and the need for co-ordinated actions to respond. This work is part of the Climate Change Commission’s core role to independently assess the risks that Aotearoa faces from the current and future effects of climate change.
Description
This submission is RACP’s response to the Outline of Submissions by Counsel Assisting NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding - focuses on Statewide services; Primary care delivery; Central workforce planning; Health Education and Training Institute; Innovation; First Nations healthcare; Community and preventive health services; Single Digital Patient Record; Collaborative system-wide planning for the delivery of health services in NSW; Workforce wellbeing data; Regional workforce distribution; Vocational training networks; Single Employer Models.
Description
This submission responds to the NSW Special Commission of lnquiry into Healthcare Funding: Issues Paper 3/2024 – Funding Models and the Way NSW Health Funds Health Services in NSW. The RACP considers that the issues outlined in the Issues Paper are of critical importance to both the future of healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of patients across NSW. The RACP remains committed to supporting the development of a robust and equitable healthcare funding system in NSW. The RACP emphasises that there is a need to ensure funding reform delivers a more efficient, equitable, and patient-centred approach to healthcare delivery in NSW. The RACP submission refers to specific proposals for what is needed to improve the interface of Federal and NSW jurisdictional planning for improved, more efficient, more cost-effective and timely service provision to patients.
Description
The RACP’s submission to the NSW Special Commission of lnquiry into Healthcare Funding highlights that a safe and well-resourced medical specialist workforce is essential to a functioning, effective and sustainable health system. The NSW health workforce faces many challenges that have been further exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such as increasing pressures and demands affecting health workers’ mental health and wellbeing, and an uneven distribution of medical professionals across locations and specialties. The RACP’s submission outlines improvements to the NSW health system to better meet the population’s health needs in a sustainable way.
