The Medicare Locals Review Report released today supports Labor’s primary health care reforms and backs the work they are doing to reduce hospitalisations and improve primary care.
Despite sitting on the Minister’s desk since 4 March, the government has decided to release the report today with no announcement.
“It is clear that this report does not contain the recommendations that Minister Dutton wanted to hear,” said Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King.
“The Review confirms that Labor’s reforms to primary health care are the right ones, and that Medicare Locals, established to keep people well and out of hospital, are what the health system needs.”
The Review recognised the need for organisations that integrate the care of patients across the system to improve patient outcomes. This is exactly what Medicare Locals do.
In fact the Review supports this structure of health reform and acknowledges it is happening internationally, and is what Australia should have been doing for years.
“Before the election Tony Abbott promised that no Medicare Local would close. They should not now be another one of Tony Abbott’s broken promises.”
“The report confirms that there is a genuine need for an localised organisation that can work collaboratively with health professionals to integrate services. This is what Medicare Locals are expected to do and are doing across Australia.”
“It was Labor that reformed Australia’s primary health care system for the betterment of health outcomes, delivery of care and efficiency of the health system.”
“The Review means Tony Abbott has no excuses for breaking yet another promise and cutting a single Medicare Local in tomorrow’s budget.”