HEALTH

PRINCIPLES

The ACT Greens believe:

1.         fair, equitable and universal access to quality health services is a basic human right

2.         health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing with outcomes influenced by the inter-relationship of biological, social, economic and environmental factors

3.         a social determinants of health^[1] approach should underpin government decision-making across all portfolios

4.         an effective health system must be based on primary health care and preventive health care, including health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention

5.         people should be encouraged to interact with health services before they become unwell

6.         consumers have the right to be fully informed about an illness they may be suffering and the options for treatment, and to fully participate in decision-making about which treatment to pursue

7.         strategic decision-making and resource allocation in the health sector to deliver long-term sustainable funding should involve a partnership between the government, community, health care consumers and health service providers

8.         all health professionals should be recognised for their training, skills and abilities

9.         peer support programs are a valuable tool to assist a person who is experiencing or has experienced an illness

10.     carers need to be supported in their role (see Carers policy)

11.     a well-resourced public sector is an integral part of the delivery of health services

12.     all health care service providers must:

12.1       respect the human rights of those who use their services

12.2       deliver safe services

12.3       be accountable for their funding and service provision

13.     strategies to reduce ACT health workforce shortages must take into account the needs of regional and overseas communities who have access to limited health services as compared to the ACT.

GOALS

The ACT Greens want:

1.         a safe and clean environment that promotes health and wellbeing

2.         a whole-of-government approach to achieve improved health outcomes for individuals and communities

3.         community health threats to be identified and targeted before they have significant impacts

4.         a health system which has strong, well-funded primary care and prevention services as well as acute, hospital-based care

5.         consumers to have access to reliable, up-to-date, impartial information about health and treatment options

6.         vulnerable communities to be a particular focus of preventive health measures and campaigns

7.         improved access to bulk-billing general practitioners and primary dental care, particularly for people who are disadvantaged

8.         the Australian Government to recognise the shortage of general practitioners in the ACT and facilitate more financial incentives for them to work here

9.         to eliminate the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

10.     for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be involved in the design and delivery of health services

11.     waiting periods for surgery (including elective surgery) equal to or less than the national average

12.     to decrease rates of obesity in the community

13.     all people to be able to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food

14.     a built environment that encourages active living

15.     to prepare health services for the regional impacts of climate change

16.     ACT women to have access to impartial, high-quality information and services in the areas of reproductive health, pregnancy termination, ante-natal care and childbirth

17.     people experiencing a chronic illness to be supported in self-managing their illness

18.     to improve the quality of life for those people living with or affected by mental illness

19.     a decrease in community stigma around mental illness and suicide

20.     to provide an adequate level of supported accommodation for people experiencing a mental illness, living in the community, and requiring assistance

21.     high-risk communities to be involved in the design of prevention programs for blood-borne viruses

22.     detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre to be able to access the same level of health services as is available to the general community

23.     people with a terminal illness to be respected in their choices regarding their treatment

24.     a high-quality professional health workforce with the capacity to meet current and projected needs of the community

25.     a health system that is responsive to feedback from community and health workers

26.     an increased accountability from the ACT Government on consumer outcome measures as compared to the current sole focus on output measures.

Download the PDF version of the Health policy.