Position Statements - 2008

Planning for Optimal Health Outcomes: Improving access to data 

Position Statement
Position Statement Summary 

Measures of mortality and morbidity represent the minimum standard in terms of health data and provide incomplete information about overall population health status. The limits of mortality data are most evident for preventable chronic diseases and injuries that impact on wellbeing and quality of life. The VHA supports population health indicators that consider the holistic health and wellbeing of communities.

Optimising Primary Health Care: Refreshing the MBS 

As part of the development of a National Primary Health Care Strategy, the federal government is reviewing the MBS. This review aims to simplify the MBS, cut "red tape" for doctors and increase the focus on prevention. This position statement examines the primary health care funding mechanisms that must be addressed as part of this review. 

Rural Emergency Services Funding in Victoria

Position Statement 
Position Statement Summary 
Weekly Times Article 

To overcome difficulties in the management of emergency care in rural areas, the VHA believes a key to success is appropriate funding arrangements and public education. The level of funding provided for acute services is currently insufficient to meet the full costs of maintaining and operating these services.

GP Super Clinics 

Position Statement 
Position Statement Summary

GP Super Clinics have the potential to improve community access to primary health care and to contribute positively towards the health of Victorians. However, there must be collaboration with existing frameworks of health service provision such as: community health, primary care partnerships and local government.

To fulfil these goals, GP Super Clinics must be based on sustainable business models and flexible funding packages that do not reward throughput at the expense of patient outcomes. This may mean the dismantling of existing siloed approaches to health care.

Small Rural Health Service Funding 

Position Statement 
Position Statement Summary 
Media Release 

Five years since rural health services first transitioned into the Small Rural Health Service (SRHS) funding model in Victoria, the VHA has explored the funding model comparing its original intent with the day-to-day impact of implementing it across Victoria. Local solutions for local needs are vitally important to the health of rural Victorians.

Capital Expenditure in the Victorian Public Healthcare System

Position Statement 
Position Statement Summary 
Media Release 

The VHA is committed to improving the processes underpinning capital planning and funding in Victoria's healthcare sector.

For healthcare providers to effectively service their patients, their workplaces and community premises must be functional, purpose-built and adaptable. Recent research has found a number of flaws in capital planning processes of state government over recent years.

Tackling Obesity: Healthy foods and food labelling in Victoria's Health Services

Position Statement 
Position Statement Summary 
Media Release 

VHA's position statement calls on the Victorian Government to introduce a simple colour-coded nutritional guide for all food and drinks sold at public hospital and health service cafeterias and vending machines.

The health system is ideally placed to role model healthy eating and lifestyle options. It is clear that vending machines too often stock unhealthy choices when the physical environment of health services should support and improve patient health.