Comprehensive National Plan Needed To Close The Gap On Indigenous Health, Says Australian Medical Association

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 11 Feb 2010 - 14:00 PDT

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AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said that the AMA welcomes the Government announcement of $9.1 million for new Indigenous mothers and baby services as the latest instalment in its commitment to close the gap on Indigenous health inequality by 2030.

Dr Pesce said that every new funding announcement for Indigenous health services will make a difference - however, in regard to overall progress, the AMA endorses the Close the Gap campaign's Shadow Report, which finds that the Federal Government still lacks a comprehensive plan to fulfil its commitment to close the gap.

"The commitment that all Australian governments have shown to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes and life expectancy provides a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference," Dr Pesce said.

"We must not waste this opportunity. The $1.6 billion COAG funding for Indigenous health programs was a good start for closing the gap, and today's announcement is further good news, but the Shadow Report shows that a more strategic coordinated approach is needed."

The Shadow Report found that the Government had not yet met key commitments made in the Statement of Intent at the Indigenous Health Equality Summit in 2008, including:

- Developing a comprehensive, long term plan of action to achieve equality of health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians by 2050;

- Ensuring the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their representative bodies in all aspects of addressing their health needs; and

- Supporting and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled services in urban, rural and remote areas in order to achieve lasting improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

Dr Pesce said governments should work in genuine partnership with Indigenous people and their representative organisations to develop and implement a comprehensive national plan to close the gap.

"Part of that plan must be that all Australian health services are supported to provide high quality and culturally appropriate health care to Indigenous people," Dr Pesce said.

"There must be an emphasis on strengthening Aboriginal community controlled health services.

"In order to ensure the COAG funding is spent in the most effective way, the national plan should include defined targets and benchmarks for progress. To be fully effective, close the gap programs need to be planned, developed and implemented in partnership with Indigenous people."

Close the Gap is a coalition of Australia's leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous health and human rights groups - including the AMA - which are committed to working with Federal, State and Territory governments to close the gap between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and other Australians within a generation.

Source
Australian Medical Association

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