AMA plan for improving Indigenous health

June 29, 2007

Aboriginal health in WA needs to come under the umbrella of a lead agency to co-ordinate the many departments and non-Government agencies now trying to cope with the problem, the AMA (WA) said today.

"The Department of Health could easily fulfil this role, but to achieve long term success a Board made up of respected experts and community leaders and given bi-partisan support, would also be essential," said association President Prof Geoff Dobb.

"Such a Board would need direct access to Ministers and department heads and should report directly to Parliament."

Prof Dobb said it was of serious concern that WA was second only to the Northern Territory in the use of hospital services by Aboriginal people who were over represented three to four times on a population basis.

"While there have been improvements in neonatal and perinatal mortality and overall life expectancy for Indigenous West Australians, they still lag well behind the rest of the population at a time of unprecedented regional prosperity in this State," he said.

"That is a tragedy.

"It's 40 years since a huge majority of Australians voted in a referendum to end discrimination against Aboriginal people, yet we still have vast discrepancies in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people."

Prof Dobb said the reality was that long-term planning and action needed to go beyond the term of Governments in WA and it could take a trans-generational change to realise the full benefits of today's social and health initiatives.

"At a political level, Aboriginal health needs to be seen as a priority issue and above party political considerations," he said.

"We need to reduce the barriers to health programs and primary care and set local, regional and State-wide goals for health outcomes and public health targets.

"Importantly, we also need integration of programs with Commonwealth and State funding and close collaboration with representatives of the relevant Aboriginal people."

Prof Dobb said AMA (WA), which was providing support to doctors working in Aboriginal communities and had initiatives to promote culturally sensitive contacts in primary care, had written to Health Minister Jim McGinty outlining its vision for improving Indigenous health.

"There is no doubt that drawing together all the major stakeholders to develop a structure that can achieve long term health benefits for WA's Aboriginal people, is an ambitious plan," he said.

"However, we believe it can be achieved and I look forward to discussing it in more detail with the Minister."

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