The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has released its pre-budget
submission for 2017-2018, Healthy people, Healthy Lives, which outlines key health funding
recommendations for the Australian Government.

The submission addresses various topics including child and adolescent health, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander health, preventive health, climate change and health, as well as
health system reform.

The submission makes a range of recommendations including:

• increased investment in early childhood development to give all Australians the best,
  healthiest start in life
• concerted efforts to close the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres
  Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians
• strong preventive health measures which will reduce preventable illness and disease,
  focusing in particular on reducing the harms of alcohol and increasing the availability
  of alcohol treatment services to those who need them
• funding for a national campaign to encourage conversations about end-of-life care
  preferences, and the development of flexible models of care that enable people to
  receive palliative care at home.

RACP President Dr Catherine Yelland said that the Australian Government must commit
sustained funding to ensure the Australian healthcare system is able to support the health
needs of all Australians.

“We need a health system that gives all Australians the best chance of living long and
healthy lives; offering high quality, patient-centred care underpinned by clinical best practice.

“We need a system that is innovative, with a focus on integrated care and preventive health
so that unnecessary health costs and avoidable illnesses are minimised.

“RACP members provide specialist medical care to Australians at every stage of their lives
and their recommendations to the Government on healthcare policy are summarised in this
submission. We hope the Australian Government is listening closely,” said Dr Yelland.