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Equipment problems in Victorian hospitals
Victorian hospitals need a dramatic increase in funding to ensure their medical equipment is comparable to other Australian hospitals, AMA Victoria President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, claimed today.
"Victoria’s investment in assets and medical equipment has lagged well behind every other Australian state and territory. In June 2000, our medical equipment assets were valued at $53 per person, compared to the national average of $98 per person. All up, we are behind by more than $200 million when compared to the national average.
"The shortfall has come about through years of neglect, and we are urging the government to improve the situation by pledging more money for medical equipment in this year’s budget," Dr Haikerwal said.
The call for more funding for medical equipment is included in the AMA Victoria budget submission, which covers public hospital funding, rural health, primary care, and care of older Victorians.
The submission also calls for:
- An increase in funding for hospital beds and services for patients with mental illness and alcohol and drug conditions.
- An increase in casemix funding to improve hospitals’ ability to recruit and retain qualified staff and improve access to the most effective treatment regimes and medicines. This would cost around $144 million.
- The establishment of a pain management centre to match those in other states, at a cost of $1.5 million per year.
- Establishment of centres for excellence in aged care in Victoria.
- Increased funding of sub-acute care and development of geriatric evaluation and management programs in the public and private sectors.
- Adequate funding for small rural hospitals to provide emergency care, assessment and stabilisation services, including staff training.
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