Page 3469 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 18 September 1991
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Consideration was given to the considerable overlap in responsibility for services to these population groups, particularly between levels of government, and this program is aimed at those, such as the elderly, whose needs are for multiple services on a continuing basis. Optimum client outcome is now regarded as best achieved by providing people with more choices through either assisting them to remain in their own homes or moving them to the least restrictive setting.
On the issue of mental health, Ministers endorsed the report of the mental health task force. Whereas separate specialised mental health services have to date been the responsibility of the States, Ministers restated their commitment to having a national mental health policy. Community and consumer concerns have been expressed about standards of care and consumer rights. Australia's international obligations under human rights agreements make it important that this issue be addressed nationally.
Ministers also considered the various strengths and shortcomings in the organisation and financing of Australia's health care system and agreed to consider the following sorts of reforms which, while retaining the positive aspects of the system, also could introduce new opportunities for improved care and better efficiency. Area regional health management arrangements, such as that in place in the ACT, were recognised as offering an opportunity to use a needs based population resource allocation formula to achieve a more equitable distribution of resources across Australia and in turn redress the considerable uneven distribution which has emerged in some areas.
The poor data available to manage hospital systems across Australia was recognised clearly at the joint Ministers meeting. Ministers agreed on the need for the development of essential outcome indicators and associated data requirements for consideration at the November Special Premiers Conference.
The proposed reforms can be achieved only if there are corresponding changes to Commonwealth-State-Territory roles and financial arrangements. Ministers agreed that the Commonwealth and States must have joint involvement in strategic directions of policy, planning and evaluation of economic and equity issues. These include, for example, eligibility and user charging.
Funding options, including pooling, are to be explored under the national health and aged care strategy. The Commonwealth would have a leadership role, in conjunction with the States, in setting national policy objectives across the pool and the States would have primary responsibility for facilitating integrated service delivery.
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