First the Federal Health Minister gave a speech a few days ago that had a couple of actual e-Health references. Is the ground shifting?
The full speech can be found here:
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Annual Dinner, Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra, 12 November 2008
12 November 2008
The relevant passages are as follows:
“This brings me to the Government’s longer-term health system reforms. These are being developed through mechanisms such as:
- the new funding agreement with the States and Territories currently being negotiated through CoAG;
- the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission;
- the national strategies on preventative health and on primary health care; and
- the development of a national e-health strategy. “
And here:
“The Primary Care discussion paper proposes 10 key elements which could underpin a future Australian primary health care system.
For example: All Australians should have access to primary health care services which keep people well and manage ill health by being
- accessible; affordable; patient-centred;
- focussed more on preventative care;
- and coordinated, particularly for people with multiple, ongoing and complex conditions.
Further, service delivery arrangements should support safe, high quality care, and better management of health information, based on e-health technologies.”
It is excellent to see these mentions – I hope the National E-Health Strategy soon becomes public. It was contracted to be delivered a good couple of months ago and there is no reason to believe Deloittes have not delivered as promised. Time for the Government to now tell us what they suggested.
Second we are now expecting the deferred COAG meeting to be held on Saturday 29 November after Kevin Rudd gets back from APEC. This will be where we see if there are to be any real e-Health dollars and activity from this Government I suspect – Fingers crossed.
Third NEHTA has published its annual report for 2007 - 8
Cost blowouts plague NEHTA
Karen Dearne | November 13, 2008
THE National E-Health Transition Authority has eaten into its reserves as staff costs, hire of contractors and administration expenses ballooned during the past financial year.
The not-for-profit entity finished the year with a surplus of $2 million, compared with a surplus of $6.5 million the previous year.
NEHTA received $28.6 million of taxpayers' money through its funding arrangements with its members - the federal Government and all state and territory governments - up from $26 million the previous year.
Wages for employees doubled to $16 million, from $8 million in 2007, while contractors and consultants were paid $13 million, up from $3.6 million.
NEHTA now employs 169 staff and contractors, mostly in Queensland and NSW. This compares with under 90 staff in 2007, and under 60 in 2006.
Contractors received $11 million, while consultants pocketed $2 million.
Administration expenses also doubled to $6.4 million, up from $3.3 million; leasehold accommodation doubled to $1.3 million, up from $657,000.
Lots more detail here:
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24645531-15306,00.html
I really only have two comments.
First – where are the independent directors which were to be appointed over 12 months ago?
Second to June 30, 2008 the NEHTA Expenditure has been – overall in 3 years:
2005/6 $9.74M
2006/7 $18.14M
2007/8 $36.65M
Pro Rata 2009 $40.00M
Total $64.25M (to June 30, 2008)
Total $104M (to June 2009).
This is a lot of now spent and committed funds. Just what exactly do we now have for all that money that is actually making a difference to the health of Australians. I would argue that three and a half years is long enough for the real benefits to be flowing...sadly I really struggle to see many in any at all.
COAG would be crazy to provide any more funds without laser like clarity and guarantees that NEHTA is worth it. Right now I can’t see that it is without some very major changes and role re-focussing.
David.
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