AUSTRALIA: State of Health Boosted

MELBOURNE (Herald Sun), February 1, 2008: Australia's states will be paid to help people get fit under a new health pact with the Federal Government. The nation's health ministers yesterday agreed preventive measures should form a part of the next Australian Health Care Agreement. In the past, the deal only covered hospital funding. "By treating the health system as a whole -- in which primary care, preventative care, aged care and hospital care interact -- more progress can be made in delivering comprehensive, serious reform, and better patient care," the ministers agreed. The change could mean an additional focus on GP care and programs that help people stay out of hospitals. The meeting also agreed to greater reporting on hospital performance. This would go further than reporting on hospital waiting lists, which has already been announced. Hospitals may have to report on emergency department medical mistakes. Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the states and territories already had their own accountability and reporting measures, but a national database was needed. By Ben Packham © Herald and Weekly Times.