3 May 2024

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians urges the Australian Government to be ambitious in healthcare investment ahead of the upcoming Budget, stating system-wide reform will deliver health equity, a more sustainable health system and better quality of life to more Australians.

In the College’s pre-Budget submission, the RACP stresses the funding priorities need to be in the areas of system reform, workforce wellbeing, disease prevention and climate resilience of the healthcare system.

RACP President-elect Dr Jennifer Martin says “The 2023 Intergenerational Report revealed the increasing financial and human burden of disease and morbidities as our population ages and lives longer, so helping Australians live healthy lives is a worthy investment and should be a budget priority.

“A multidisciplinary approach is the most effective way to address the complex challenges facing our healthcare.

“To strive for health equity, the Government must expand telehealth items to improve access to life-saving healthcare, especially for people living in rural, regional and remote areas.

“The Budget needs to reflect a commitment to support the health and wellbeing of priority populations, including older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those living in regional and remote communities.

“Infrastructure that supports preventative healthcare must be prioritised – this includes delivering a sustainable Centre for Disease Control and funding the prevention of other prevalent conditions such as obesity, diabetes and conditions that arise from tobacco use.”

The College recommends the National Health Preventative Strategy, which requires 5% of total health expenditure to be dedicated to prevention by 2030, be clearly funded over forward estimates to promote a healthy population and relieve the strain on health services.

“There needs to also be an investment in our workforce – the heart of our healthcare system – to address workforce pressures and burnout. We call on the Federal Government to fully fund strategies, training hubs and programs that support the workforce, especially in rural, remote and regional areas.

“We also know that climate change is already impacting the health of our patients, therefore the National Health and Climate Strategy needs to be fully funded to ensure our healthcare system is climate-resilient and climate-friendly.

“If the Australian Government choses to invest in the health of Australians in a meaningful way, we will all reap the benefits,” says Dr Martin.

As outlined in the submission, the College says the upcoming Budget commitments must:

• Support introduction of innovative multidisciplinary models of care that overcome the existing siloes and offer patients the right care, in the right setting, at the right time for them
• Recognise prevention and tackling broader drivers of disease as the two pillars that will support better health and health system outcomes into the future
• Promote true health equity in priority populations and
• Enhance climate resilience and equip the health system to be climate ready and friendly.