Page 4234 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
2
HEALTH COMPLAINTS BILL 1993
MADAM SPEAKER, THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE OVERSIGHT, REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH SERVICES BY ESTABLISHING AN ACCESSIBLE INDEPENDENT FACILITY.
THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF HEALTH CONSUMER PROTECTION. IT IS WATCHDOG LEGISLATION FOR CONSUMERS, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT WILL HELP LEAD THE WAY TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF HEALTH CONSUMER RIGHTS.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE DRAFT HEALTH COMPLAINTS BILL WAS RELEASED AS AN EXPOSURE PACKAGE FROM THE 26TH OF AUGUST UNTIL THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER 1993. OVER THREE HUNDRED COPIES OF THE PACKAGE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ONE HUNDRED DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, HEALTH REGISTRATION BOARDS, INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMITTEES, MEDICAL DEFENCE FUNDS AND INTERSTATE AGENCIES.
THE ONGOING COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROCESS HAS CONSIDERED COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND ENCOURAGED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED EQUALLY WITH COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH USER GROUPS, HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, HEALTH REGISTRATION BOARDS, AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS.
A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. THE MAJORITY OF COMMENTS CONCERNED ADMINISTRATIVE RATHER THAN POLICY ISSUES. RELEVANT AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BILL IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS CONCERNING POLICY. THIS INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF A FOURTEEN DAY "COOLING OFF" PERIOD FOR PARTIES INVOLVED IN CONCILIATION ;TON WHO REACH A SOLUTION AND THEN DECIDE TO CONFIRM THEIR VERBAL AGREEMENT IN WRITING. THE COOLING OFF PERIOD APPLIES PRIOR TO THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT BEING SIGNED AND IS INTENDED TO OFFER A PERIOD DURING WHICH EITHER PARTY CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO FINALISE THE CONCILIATION.
4234
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .