E-health missing from Abbott plan

Tony Abbott with his mentor John Howard at a Liberal Party fundraiser / Picture: Ray Strange Source: News Limited

Opposition leader Tony Abbott did not make any commitment to future e-health programs, despite his former advocacy as health minister in the Howard government.

Australian Medical Association president Andrew Pesce said the absence was "a major concern because, without e-health, we cannot make the best use of existing health care services and avoid errors, duplication and waste."

Dr Pesce has previously pointed to the potential for the national broadband network to give Australians in rural areas access to improved medical services through tele-consultations, high-quality diagnostic imaging and fast access to electronic health records.

But the AMA remains uncertain what benefits will accrue from Labor's $467 million personally-controlled e-health records scheme funded in the recent budget, as details are yet to be revealed.

AushealthIT blogger David More said it was impossible to assess what the major parties planned for the e-health space "as we don't have enough information from either of them".

"Labor has a budget allocation but has not really disclosed what they plan to do - despite significant planning work being known to have been done," Dr More said.

"The Liberals say they will cancel whatever Labor has committed to - but they do not have a positive policy of their own.

"The approaches from both sides are equally dismal in my view."

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners welcomed the coalition's commitment to GP services and infrastructure-building, but is also pursuing a broader e-health agenda.

RACGP president Chris Mitchell said governments must recognise that the greatest benefit to patients and the most effective healthcare occurs in the community setting.

In particular, GPs are seeking a shift in focus from hospitals to community care, prevention, supported teamwork, greater access to diagnostic tools and investment in e-health.

The RACGP has recently signed an agreement with Telstra to deliver web-hosted services to its membership, providing GPs with secure access to healthcare applications such as decision-support, care planning, electronic referrals and prescribing, plus online training and administrative services.

“Staying up-to-date is important," Dr Mitchell said. "This partnership will make it easy for GPs to take advantage of technology that is now available.

Using the web means doctors can access applications from anywhere; from their practices, homes, hospitals or aged care facilities.”

Meanwhile, the Greens say the Coalition's health plan may offer short term improvements to hospital waiting lists but does nothing to reduce increasing demand due to preventable and chronic illness.

Greens health spokewoman Rachel Siewert said money spent on keeping people well and out of hospital would deliver better health and economic outcomes.

"Hospital care is the most expensive form of treatment within our health system," she said.

"Tony Abbott could only suggest 'diet and exercise' when asked for action on prevention and that simply isn't good enough for a former health minister."

Senator Siewert said Mr Abbott needed to explain how he would deal with state health bureaucracies as well as the "special interests" of the AMA, the Pharmacy Guild, pharmaceutical companies and private health insurance funds.