Policy and Advocacy Library
The Policy and Advocacy 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 believes that the proposed strategic goal, objectives and priority action areas are reasonable. However, reducing gambling harm requires a muilti-sector, interdisciplinary response and the College identifies a number of areas in which the strategy may be augmented.
Description
The regulation of medicines and medical devices is of great importance to the College. The College submission to the first Discussion Paper of the National Medicines Policy (2000) Review advocates for ongoing Specialist Physician involvement throughout the process, draws attention to the strong need for this updated policy framework to operate consistently across all health sectors, to address the needs of different populations, to build the workforce, to improve medication safety, to secure supply chains and to be framed to safeguard the environment. As the Expert Advisory Committee will also be deciding on whether to expand the NMP to include health technologies or revise the definition of medicines, the RACP submission includes a range of significant factors that should be considered.
Description
The RACP strongly supports the intention of the Bill to prohibit conversion practices. Efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity through the guise of health care are unethical. These practices are opposed to the fundamental principles of medical practice, being the promotion of wellbeing and not doing harm.
Description
The RACP believes that, for the inquiry to be useful, it must focus on the intersections of different vectors of disadvantage in our society. If this is not the main focus, it risks simply reiterating existing knowledge, and providing a continued justification for a lack of action.
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
The Department of Social Services is developing the successor plan to the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020. The RACP submission provides feedback and ideas on how the successor plan’s first five-year implementation plan can create real change. The successor plan can only be successful if governments, the non-government and Aboriginal community-controlled sectors work together to identify and agree on more integrated approaches. This will require significant effort and investment and, given the scope of change required, should be a key focus of the implementation plan.
Description
The RACP believes that the format of this consultation is not conducive to the development of useful and relevant feedback. Despite this, we include in our submission opinions from our members on the suitability of specific medicines for addition to the schedule.
Description
The RACP recognises the comparative advantages of PHARMAC’s model, but believes there are significant failings in its current operation regarding transparency, equity, and the availability of niche drugs. We recommend that the review address these issues, alongside other matters contained within our submission.
Description
This response was led by the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (AChAM) to the Department of Health's initial consultation survey on the post-market review of the medicines listed on the PBS Opiate Dependence Treatment Program. The survey focuses specifically on the draft Terms of Reference for the review.
Topic
Occupational and environmental health
Description
This submission provides the College’s feedback on the proposed amendments to the Guidelines on Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD) for commercial and private vehicle drivers to inform the National Transport Commissions’ 2021 review of the Guidelines.
Description
The RACP strongly supports universal availability of self-testing for HPV primary screening, and suggests wider considerations to improve access.
