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Major parties neck and neck on health
AMA Victoria has released an analysis of health policies released by the two major parties in the lead-up to this Saturday’s election.AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates said the two major parties were neck and neck on health policies and it was pleasing all parties had recognised the importance of continuing to make improvements to Victoria’s health system.
“Both major parties have unveiled significant health policies, with a number of similarities. AMA Victoria would give both major parties a rating of 7 out of 10 for their health policies released in the lead-up to the election.”
Dr Yates said health has been a strong platform for the Labor Party, which has invested heavily and achieved significant improvements over the past two terms of government.
“However, the Liberal Party provided a number of strong policies in the lead up to this election addressing major weaknesses in our healthcare system such as critical care services and workforce issues, and offered more comprehensive responses to issues such as outpatients.”
Dr Yates said AMA Victoria had analysed each parties overall health policies, but had also assessed the parties’ policies against AMA Victoria’s five key election priority areas.
The AMA Victoria election priorities document outlined five key problem areas in Victoria’s health system and provided workable solutions.
“With respect to the two major parties, the Liberal Party finished ahead on public hospital access (outpatient and critical care services) and workforce issues and was marginally ahead on rural and outer metro issues.
“While both parties provided strong policies on Mental Health, the ALP was marginally ahead because of a commitment to additional acute beds. In addition, as the Liberal Party has yet to release a policy on obesity, again the ALP came out ahead.
“The minor parties provided a number of useful policies on equipment replacement, ambulance transfer costs and increased dementia services, which would be worthy of adoption by whichever party wins power.”
Key areas lacking in the parties’ health policies included a comprehensive workforce plan and funding commitments for rural hospital emergency services.
Dr Yates said no party recognised the importance of establishing an appropriate level of rural hospital emergency services.
“This funding blight must be sorted out by the incoming government, so rural communities can have surety about access to emergency services.”
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