World’s best health system

MINISTER for Health, Greg Hunt, speaking at the Na onal Press Club in Canberra last week, announced the launch of Australia’s Long Term Na onal Health Plan: to build the world’s best health system, which commits an injec on of $435 billion, including improved access to medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The plan will provide a blueprint for boos ng health care in Australia, including guaranteeing Medicare, suppor ng public and private hospitals, improving private health insurance, priori sing mental health and preventa ve health and inves ng in health and medical research.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has welcomed the commitment with CEO, Kris n Michaels, saying “As custodians of 20% of PBS expenditure, hospital pharmacists are essen al to ensuring the safe and op mal use of some of the most cutting‐edge medicines, which help manage many aggressive and complex diseases.

“Increased access to the latest, high-quality medicines through the PBS – many of which are managed by hospital pharmacists embedded in mul disciplinary hospital teams – will reinforce this pillar of the healthcare system, suppor ng op mal care for more Australians.”

The new na onal health plan also outlines the government’s commitment to increase funding for all Australian public hospitals, from $100 billion between 2015–16 and 2019–20 to an es mated $131 billion between 2020–21 and 2024–25.

“SHPA also welcomes the commitment to health and medical research – having recently established a Research stream of Specialty Prac ce – and priori sing mental health and preventa ve health, two areas within which safe and quality use of medicines is essen al,” Michaels said.

Access the na onal health plan at health.gov.au.