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Rudd's health reform: Keneally right to ask questions
Saturday 06 March 2010
Greens NSW MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says NSW Premier Kristina Keneally is wise to ask for more information from the Rudd government to fully evaluate the implications of the health plan for NSW, but should broaden her questions to what initiatives are planned to reign in costs generated by the burgeoning private health care sector.
"Ms Keneally is right to point to the impact of spiralling health costs for NSW taxpayers, but she must acknowledge the impact of a trend towards privatising health," Ms Rhiannon said.
"A key question for the Prime Minister is whether the reform package will tackle health costs arising from the federal government kowtowing to the private health industry over the last 15 years.
"Maximising good health outcomes for patients should be the NSW Premier's key criterion for any evaluation of Rudd's economic rationalist health package.
"The Labor Party has happily taken the reins of an economic rationalist health reform agenda, a horse and cart inherited from the Opposition Leader and former health minister Tony Abbott.
"We have heard very little from the Rudd government on how it intends to fix the problem of a increasingly privatised health system leading to poor services and higher costs.
"The Greens believe it is important to halt and reverse the privatisation of health care, including far-reaching reform of the private health insurance rebate.
"The money saved can then be directed to the public health system, particularly public hospitals.
"We need a new balance for health where the community comes first, not commercial and special interests.
"A health care regime where the public system is prioritised over private health interests will always cost less and deliver more to voters," Ms Rhiannon said.
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