7 October 2026
Physicians are calling on the NSW Government to commit at least 5 per cent of health funding to preventive health over the next decade, warning the health system cannot afford to wait until people are sick.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is making the call as healthcare workers from across the state convene today at the NSW Preventive Health Summit.
RACP Dean, Associate Professor Kudzai Kanhutu, says NSW needs to place greater weight on preventing disease before it reaches the point of requiring hospital care.
“Every day physicians see the consequences of a health system that does not invest enough in prevention.
“Preventive health means acting across the whole continuum – preventing illness before it develops, intervening early when risks of disease first emerge, and preventing disease progression and complications for people with established conditions.
“The NSW health system continues to face significant and growing pressure. Investing in preventive health is key to reducing the chronic strain on our health system.”
The RACP is calling for the NSW Government to allocate at least 5 per cent of health expenditure over 10 years towards prevention and argues that this investment is critical to improving population health and the long-term sustainability of the hospital system.
Associate Professor Kanhutu says that funding also needs to be clearly identified and protected.
“Prevention cannot be the first thing sacrificed when other parts of the health system come under pressure.
“Our members report that targeted prevention funding is routinely redeployed to compensate for broader resource constraints. Dedicated preventive health funding needs to be quarantined, transparently reported and protected for its intended purpose.”
The RACP also calls for greater investment in primary prevention, including reducing exposure to health hazards, supporting healthier behaviours and building resilience to health risks.
“Investment in primary prevention is essential to stop exposure to health hazards, such as lowering unsafe behaviours like poor diet or smoking, supporting immunisation programs and providing health education.
“Healthcare services alone cannot deliver preventive health. Physicians can provide leadership. It also needs a society-wide approach that addresses all factors driving poor health.
“We need NSW Health to work across government, and with physicians, communities and the private sector, to reduce the burden of avoidable disease.
“The Summit is an opportunity to make preventive health a genuine priority for NSW. If we act earlier, fewer people will reach hospital with preventable disease, and more will have the chance to live healthier, longer lives" says Associate Professor Kanhutu.