Catholic Health Australia – Response to Victorian Review of VAD
February 24, 2025
We need policy changes to deliver for the sick
February 25, 2025
Opinion
By Alex Lynch
Catholic Health Australia Director of Public Health and In Home Support Policy
Catholic Health Australia (CHA) welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of an additional $1.7 billion in funding for public hospitals in early February.
CHA has been actively engaged with the Government on the next iteration of the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA). Our members operate 17 public hospitals directly impacted by the NHRA funding model. Beyond this, our 63 private hospitals also operate in an environment shaped by public hospital funding policies.
In addition to our ongoing calls for increased public hospital funding, CHA’s members have put forward practical solutions to ensure that the next NHRA iteration leverages the full health system to achieve the best health outcomes for Australians. Moving forward, it is crucial that the Commonwealth, States, Territories, and other key health stakeholders work together to get the national agreement right. A key principle must be recognising the evolving nature of clinical practices and consumer behaviour, including the shift toward more care being delivered outside of hospitals. Government must also acknowledge the critical role of the not-for-profit sector in alleviating pressure on the public hospital system.
It became clear that a range of factors – including the upcoming Federal and Western Australian elections and ongoing discussions about the National Disability Insurance Scheme – would hinder the passage of a comprehensive NHRA 5-year deal in early 2025. As a result, the single-year funding agreement will provide the Government with the necessary time to negotiate a robust 5-year NHRA.
This funding represents a significant new investment in our national health system and will provide much-needed support for people across the entire healthcare spectrum. CHA reached out to congratulate the Government on this important step and also commended the bipartisan support for this vital funding boost. Stay tuned for more from CHA as we continue to advocate for funding and policy priorities leading into the federal election campaign.
Alex Lynch is Director of Public Health and In Home Support Policy at Catholic Health Australia
Alex Lynch
Director of Public Health and In Home Support Policy. Alex is passionate about delivering policy solutions that ensure high quality health and aged care is available to the most vulnerable members of our community.
