Greater focus needed on prevention

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13 February 2008
NR08/17

A report out today shows the previous Government just wasn’t interested in preventative health.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW’s) National Public Health Expenditure Report 2005-06 shows that public health investment by the previous government represented only 1.8 per cent of the budget allocation for health and ageing.

In fact, compared with the previous year, there was an 8 per cent decline in the former government’s funding for public health in 2005-06 (from $867 million to $797 million).

In contrast, funding by the states and territories increased by 17 per cent.

The report provides the only consistent national picture of public health expenditure.

The Rudd Government believes that prevention should take a far greater role in the health system.

We have already committed to a National Preventative Health Strategy, to be developed by a National Preventative Health Taskforce. That taskforce will seek to tackle the looming burden of chronic diseases, with an initial focus on alcohol, tobacco and obesity.

We have also announced that the forthcoming Australian Health Care Agreements will include a focus on preventative care.

We will review the Medicare schedule, with a view to introducing incentives to encourage longer GP consultations.

And we have committed up to $54 million to tackling obesity, including the Kitchen Gardens Program.

We are determined to shift prevention from the margins to the centre of health care – a crucial part of building a health system for a modern Australia.

Media contact: Sean Kelly - 0417 108 362