The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed reports that the Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek would be visiting Tasmania next week, and urged the State Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne to seek a meeting in order to press the case for trialling a single-funder health model in Tasmania.
Greens Health spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said Ms O’Byrne acknowledged during Budget Estimates that a single funder model as was a desirable option, but indicated she had only a “very preliminary discussion” about it with her Federal counterpart.
“There are growing calls within healthcare sector, including the Australian Medical Association and others in the medical community, for a single funder model of some kind to be seriously considered,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“Ms O’Byrne needs to use this opportunity to meet with the Minister Plibersek and argue the case for Tasmania to become a pilot for an appropriate single funder health model.”
“Ms O’Byrne recently said that there is no point pushing for a single funder trial until the Federal Government’s National Health Reforms come into place in July this year, but that’s no excuse for inaction.”
“We are facing a situation where health spending will consume the entire State Budget unless decisive action is taken to put healthcare delivery on a sustainable footing.”
“Medical experts agree that a single funder model would go a long way to addressing the funding inequities and inefficiencies by removing a lot of the duplication and reduce waste in health.”
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Health Spokesperson
