The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it conditionally supports a federally funded health system but has raised questions over the reforms, including the government's plan to tackle the labour shortage in the health sector.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it conditionally supports a federally funded health system but has raised questions over the reforms, including the government's plan to tackle the labour shortage in the health sector.
In a statement today, CCIWA today said it supported the health overhaul but only if it was properly managed and implemented.
"To date we have yet to see evidence of that," CCI manager social policy Anne Bellamy said.
She says there are six key questions that needed to be answered by the Rudd government about its health reform process.
These include how the reforms will make better use of taxpayer dollars, will the reforms end the "blame game" between states and the Commonwealth and what initiatives have been included to tackle the skills shortage in the industry.
Ms Bellamy said the government also needed to outline a mental and dental health, and preventative care proposal, clearly outline how the $739 million offer to the aged care sector will be delivered and how the government intends to integrate the e-health records into a reformed national health system.
"It's critical that government delivers real reform," Ms Bellamy said.
"With the Prime Minister to meet the states on Monday, WA business urges our leaders to put politics aside and act in the best interests of the Australian people."
The federal government's health reforms have been widely criticised by state and territory leaders due to its lack of detail and the proposal to take away a third of GST revenue from the states.
State and territory leaders are due to discuss the health reforms with the federal government at Monday's Council of Australian Governments meeting.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had previously said that if the government does not get approval from the states and territories, he would take the reforms to a referendum.
The announcement is below:
The WA business community is concerned that the way we care for people who are sick and injured is being used as a political football.
The debate over the future of Australia's health care system is raising more questions than answers.
The State's peak organisation representing local business, CCI, believes there is currently a unique opportunity to develop a modern and more efficient health system. CCI supports a federally funded health system, as long as it is properly managed and implemented.
To date, we have yet to see evidence of that.
On this issue CCI speaks, not only for the WA business community, but its many members
across the health, aged care and community services sectors. There are six key questions that must be answered by government about its reform process.
The WA business community wants to know;
1. How will the proposed reforms make better use of taxpayer dollars through improved efficiencies and reduced costs for government agencies and businesses operating in the health, aged care and community service sectors?
2. How will the proposed reforms change the 'blame game' when responsibility for health outcomes is still shared between the Commonwealth and states and territories?
3. With labour shortages in WA set to worsen, what initiatives are included in the reform package to ensure a viable and sustainable workforce into the future?
4. Where are the proposals to reform to mental and dental health, and preventative care? What has happened to the proposed nexus between hospitals and primary healthcare organisations?
5. How will the $739 million on offer to the aged care sector provide more beds for elderly people? Has a 'user-pays' option been fully explored?
6. How will the proposed e-health records be integrated into a reformed national health system?
It's critical that government delivers real reform. With the Prime Minister to meet the States on Monday, WA business urges our leaders to put politics aside and act in the best interests of the Australian people.
