How are the government’s reforms progressing, and what impact will they have on general practice?
On 24 November 2007, the people of Australia elected a new Labor government, which promised to reform Australia’s health system, with a strong commitment to primary health care and general practice.1,2 Following the election, the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission was established,3 along with taskforces to develop a National Preventative Health Strategy4 and a National Primary Health Care Strategy.5
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- 4. The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. New health taskforce on prevention — tobacco, alcohol and obesity priorities [media release]. 9 Apr 2008. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr08-nr-nr046.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2008&mth=4 (accessed May 2010).
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- 6. National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. A healthier future for all Australians: final report June 2009. Canberra: Australian Government, 2009.
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- 8. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. A national health and hospitals network for Australia’s future. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2010. http://www.yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/nhhn-report-toc/$FILE/NHHN%20-%20Full%20report.pdf (accessed May 2010).
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- 12. The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister, and the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. Strengthening primary care in local communities [media release]. 12 Apr 2010. http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6659 (accessed May 2010, link no longer available).
- 13. The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. More comprehensive and convenient GP and primary care [media release]. 11 May 2010. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-nr-nr090.htm (accessed Jun 2010).
- 14. Council of Australian Governments Meeting. Communiqué. 19–20 Apr 2010. http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2010-04-19/docs/Communique_20_April_2010.pdf (accessed May 2010).
- 15. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. GP Super Clinics. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-gpsuperclinics (accessed May 2010).
- 16. Bracey A. Poll: most GPs will snub diabetes scheme. Medical Observer 2010; 30 Apr. http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/poll-most-gps-will-snub-diabetes-scheme (accessed May 2010).
- 17. The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. Historic step forward for midwives and nurse practitioners [media release]. 24 Jun 2009. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-nr-nr087.htm (accessed May 2010).
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- 20. The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing. Personally controlled electronic health records for all Australians [media release]. 11 May 2010. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/budget2010-hmedia09.htm (accessed May 2010).
- 21. Chan M. Message from WHO Director-General. 7 Apr 2008. http://www.who.int/world-health-day/dg_message/en/index.html (accessed May 2010).
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- 27. Essential Research. National public poll: experience with GPs. Public report for AMA National. Canberra: Australian Medical Association, 2010. http://www.ama.com.au/system/files/node/5514/Survey+GP+patients.pdf (accessed Jun 2010).
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I chair the Australian Government’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections and am a member of the Australian Government’s Medical Training Review Panel, for both of which I receive a sitting fee and payment of my travel expenses for meetings. I am a board member of Northern Territory General Practice Education, which receives Australian Government funding. I have served as chair or member of past Australian Government committees, councils and boards. I am a past president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, current chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia and president-elect of the World Organization of Family Doctors.