WEL 1998 Election Form Guide

Health Insurance and
Public Health Services

WEL believes that access to good public health services must be the basic right of all. The choice to insure privately for extra services should be a real choice and should not fed by fear of inadequate services in the public sector. WEL would therefore prefer to see funding for the public sector as a priority and does not support the subsidization of private health services where there are shortfalls in the public sphere. While we welcome initiatives like improved immunization and other public and preventive health programs, we are concerned that other areas of health may not be covered. The distribution of health services in rural areas, including rehabilitation and access to sexual health and fertility control advice and services are also important. We are also concerned that the basic public health requirements of clean water, basic housing and plumbing and other environmental issues are still not guaranteed for all Australians.

Positives

• Evaluation of National Women’s Health Program recommended that program be extended until 2001 and continuation of cost sharing arrangement
• Commencement of longitudinal study into women’s health

Negatives

• Decreased funding for National Women’s Health Program
• Family Planning Review created uncertainty about future of services
• Introduction of payment for entry to hostels
• Reviewed overseas aid programs on family planning due to pressure from Senate

Positives

• Immunisation campaigns and other small programs
• Evidence based medicine and some reluctant expansion of funds to the states under the Medicare agreement
• General practice improvements

Negatives

• National Women’s Health Program funding agreement ended June 1997. Program has been made part of the National Public Health Partnership and is in danger of being lost
• Passage of Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 1996 has made certain contraceptive and abortifacient drugs harder to import into Australia
• Longitudinal study on women’s health starved of funds
• Cuts to family planning services both in Australia and in overseas aid programs
• Commonwealth Dental Program abolished
• Restrictions introduced in 1996 and 1997 on eligibility of health care cards to low income families
• 20% increase in cost of pharmaceuticals for health care card holders
• User charges for hearing services increased
• Abolition of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council subcommittee on Women and Health which has been established since 1987

Positives

• Additional hypothecated tax, and increase in Medicare levy for high income earners to supplement public health services, particularly hospitals, and research funds
• Clear commitment to the maintenance of the public system and Medicare
• Recognising nursing homes as medical facilities not housing
• Commitment to women’s health program

Negatives

• Retain subsidy for private health insurance

Positives

-

Negatives

• Commitments to spending more on private care both in extra money for some specialist services eg births and large extra subsidies for private insurance
• Additional rebate for private health insurance

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Page created 20 September 1998; last updated 20 September 1998