Industry News
Ophthalmologists Urge Australians to Support Healthcare Reform Petition
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) is launching a critical campaign to establish a private health commission, calling on Australians to support an urgent e-petition that could transform the nation's healthcare landscape.
The ASO has initiated an e-petition (EN6877) through the Parliament of Australia, seeking to create an independent commission to regulate private health insurance and hospital sectors. The petition, which closes on December 25, 2024, aims to address mounting challenges in Australia's healthcare system.
Recent developments highlight the sector's critical state:
- Healthscope, Australia's second-largest private hospital provider, terminated hospital contracts with Bupa and the Australian Health Services Alliance
- Over 70 private hospitals have been forced to close
- Ongoing disputes between health insurers and private hospitals remain unresolved
ASO Chief Executive Officer Kerry Gallagher AM emphasized the urgent need for governmental intervention. "Minister Butler has effectively distanced himself, leaving private hospitals to resolve disputes independently," Gallagher stated. “There are ongoing issues in the private health sector that are not being resolved and are forcing the closure of services and redirecting unexpected costs onto patients — and it is everyday Australians who are losing out and questioning the value of private health insurance. In lieu of the intervention of government, and the elusive presence of the Commonwealth Ombudsman to oversight and resolve issues, it is clear the only way forward is the establishment of a private health commission,” said Mr Gallagher.
ASO President Dr. Peter Sumich underscored the broader implications, noting that private hospitals are crucial for reducing pressure on the public system and providing specialized care. “Private hospitals not only provide critical services and reduce pressure on the public system, but they also offer ‘competition’ to public health services and patients more choices and access to high levels of specialised care,” he said. “Without appropriate funding, private hospitals may face significant challenges that threaten the safety and quality of care they provide. This situation could also lead to a threat to private healthcare generally, and then, to the collapse of the function and effectiveness of private health insurance. To ensure that private hospitals can continue to meet the needs of Australians, it is crucial to address the current and ongoing funding gaps — which are forcing private hospital doors to close forever. This can be achieved not only through public-private partnerships, government incentives, and policies that support both private health insurance and direct funding for private healthcare providers, but also through the fail-safe of an independent private health commission.”
The ASO urges Australians to sign the e-petition at https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN6877 before December 25, 2024. Petitions receiving 50+ signatures may be referred to a minister for response.
The proposed private health commission would:
- Regulate private health insurance interactions
- Oversee hospital sector funding
- Ensure sustainability of Australia's healthcare system
As healthcare challenges intensify, the ASO's petition represents a pivotal moment for Australian healthcare reform.
