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
This RACP submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) discusses medicines shortages challenges and opportunities in Australia, identifying the key issues for specialists and their patients when a medicine shortage occurs, impacts for clinical care, practitioner workload and wellbeing. It proposes significant reforms to TGA processes for predicting, identifying, assessing and communicating medicines shortages; strategies to attract and retain international medicines supplies as well as strengthen local markets are also proposed, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant limitations in our national capacity to rapidly source medications from the international supply chain and the continuing paucity of local supply chains.
Description
The RACP and its Tasmanian Committee are committed to advocating for the development of policies that are based on evidence, informed by the knowledge and expertise of physicians, and that benefit the health of Tasmanians and the Tasmanian healthcare system.
Description
This submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care Feasibility study on options to limit unhealthy food marketing to children calls the Australian Federal Government to urgently implement national regulations on junk food marketing to children to reduce the appeal and persuasive power of this marketing. Detailed regulatory options are proposed, supported by evidence-based rationales for the promotion of children’s health and wellbeing.
Description
The RACP’s advice on modelling the health impacts of climate change for the Australian Federal Treasury outlines the importance of including climate health impacts in modelling to provide a fuller picture of the economic impacts of climate change. Modelling must prioritise cultural safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, knowledge, and leadership. Further, it must include consideration of costs as well as cost savings related to health co-benefits of climate action. Our suggested focus areas for modelling include the costs of heat, bushfires, and bushfire smoke on population health and the costs of climate change on healthcare systems. Modelling the health costs of climate change and the health benefits of climate action is important as Australia implements its first National Health and Climate Strategy.
Description
The RACP Transfer of Care Inquiry submission has been developed by the RACP Tasmanian Committee which represents Tasmania physicians and trainees on a range of educational, professional development and advocacy issues.
Emergency access and transfer of care delays of long-stay disability and aged care patients are serious issues facing the Tasmanian healthcare system. We need improved patient access and outcomes at a system level, not just better transfer metrics at one point in the system.
This submission has been informed by existing RACP policies and positions, and by the challenges and opportunities that physicians in Tasmania routinely observe in the course of their clinical and other duties.
Description
The RACP advocates for Federal Government funding that addresses the needs of patient communities, enhances the sustainability of our health system and increases the resilience of our natural environments.
Drawing on the experience and knowledge of College members and trainees, our 2024-2025 Pre-Budget submission to the Australian Treasury provides evidence-based recommendations to improve the operation of the Medicare system, broaden access to specialists, strengthen, support and distribute the specialist workforce, and reduce the many factors driving an avoidable share of disease in our community, including climate related illnesses.
Description
This College submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport Inquiry into Diabetes outlines the policies and interventions that are needed to reduce escalating rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity linked to complex obesogenic factors. The submission also discusses ways to improve the health and wellbeing of patients living with these chronic conditions.
Description
The RACP submission calls for a National Health and Climate Strategy that focusses on the health and wellbeing of communities and populations alongside the Strategy’s current health systems focus. The Strategy’s objectives must include building healthy and climate resilient communities, and climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare systems. We call for the Strategy to be fully funded with National Cabinet sign-off. Further, the Strategy must prioritise First Nations leadership, health equity, prevention, and reducing low-value care and mobilise sectors outside of health.
Description
This RACP submission presents a series of substantiated recommendations for reforming Australia’s oral health system. It details the extent to which the current system is inequitable and explains how the College’s seven (7) proposed reform initiatives would address key problems. Particular emphasis is given to the four (4) access barriers to dental services and the importance of monitoring quality data through a central surveillance system.
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
This RACP submission focuses on enhancing the assessment and support services for individuals living with ADHD, with specific attention to the diagnosis and experiences of children and young people with ADHD. The submission strongly advocates for integrated, cross-profession, team-based approaches to care to effectively address the needs of individuals with ADHD, emphasises the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of ADHD comorbidities and advocates for consistent regulations regarding ADHD medications across different states and territories. The submission also recommends the allocation of funding for the development of community-based research into the identification and diagnosis of ADHD in First Nations families and how to better support them.
