Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)

A proposal from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to conduct the Census every ten years instead of five would come at an unacceptable cost to healthcare planning, according to a number of national health peak bodies.

In the last year there has been much discussion around the Government’s desire to reduce expenditure and health has been a target of these discussions, with many statements about the unsustainability of Medicare and a looming blowout in health expenditure. CHF welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Federal Treasurer to inform the 2015-16 Federal Budget.

CHF would like to congratulate consumer health advocates, Anne McKenzie and Rosemary Calder, on their Australia Day Honours for their outstanding work in healthcare & community services.

The health system exists to deliver improved health outcomes for all health consumers in Australia.  They must be part of the conversation about improving it.  
The Federal Health Minister appears to have forgotten the central players in the health system - consumers - in her consultations on future directions for Medicare.

Today’s thumping 6.1 per cent average rise in health fund premiums delivers a fresh blow to health consumers, already facing a GP co-payment and burdened with among the highest out of pocket costs in the world.

The Health Minister has taken a doctors know best approach in her push for a Medicare copayment but shown little interest in hearing from our members about what’s best for patients, says the Consumers Health Forum.

“Minister Ley is still proposing out of pocket costs for health care that will hit many patients, yet we have heard little from her about the need to put patients’ interests first,’ says the Chief Executive Officer of CHF, Adam Stankevicius. 

CHF has welcomed the appointment of distinguished medical researcher Professor Anne Kelso AO to the role of CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Key new research reveals 79% of Australians polled believe if we don't do more to lower the intake of fatty sugary and salty foods/drinks, our children will live shorter lives than their parents. 85% of people polled said unhealthy eating habits are now a major problem for Australian children.

In the wake of the Essential Research nationwide poll, 4 major groups have joined together to urge the Federal Government to take decisive and firm action to stop the never-ending promotion of unhealthy food.

The Consumers Health Forum has today called for a national summit to explore ways to assure the future of Medicare as a cost-effective health financing system, which ensures equitable access to services.

“We welcome the Government’s decision today to shelve its plan to tinker with time-based Medicare payments for GPs that had the potential to generate $20 out-of-pocket costs for patients,” the CEO of CHF, Adam Stankevicius said.