Media Statement - 29th October 2007
Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health Nicola Roxon tonight outlined Federal Labor’s vision for women’s health policy when she participated in an expert discussion panel at the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health in Melbourne.
“Labor is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all women in Australia, and implementing policies to encourage the health system to be more responsive to the needs of women.
“Women are the majority of health consumers, the majority of health service providers and the majority of carers in the Australian community.
“Women use Medicare services twice as much as men largely because of pregnancy and child birth, and because they are more likely to live longer and therefore experience conditions common to old age.
“Further, as the primary care givers in the Australian community, women more often experience the hardships and cost arising from the intersection between our primary care, hospital and aged care sectors.
“We understand that some health issues – such as gynaecological cancers and pregnancy related conditions – only affect women, and that other health issues - such as osteoporosis and stroke - affect more women than men.
“Labor recognises that by improving the health of all Australian women we will improve the health of the whole community,” said Ms Roxon.
“A Rudd Labor Government will develop - in consultation with State and Territory governments, health service providers, consumers and advocacy groups – a national policy on women’s health that will encourage specific health services for women and will actively promote participation of women in health decision making and management.
“The Howard Government have had no strategy for women’s health over the past 11 years – Labor’s national policy on women’s health will be the most significant development in this area since Australia launched its first National Women’s Health Policy under a previous Labor Government in 1989.”
A range of Labor’s recent health initiatives will particularly impact on women’s health:
- With nearly 4 in 5 women suffering from at least one long term ill-health condition, and women experience higher prevalence asthma, hypertensive disease, chronic sinusitis and arthritis than men, Labor’s pledge to shift the focus of our health system towards a greater focus on preventative health, enhanced health promotion and greater attention to monitoring and managing Australia’s escalating burden of chronic disease will particularly impact on women’s health.
- Labor’s $220 million commitment to GP Super Clinics will bring health professionals – doctors, specialists, allied health – together in the one place, substantially improving the accessibility and convenience of health services for women and their families.
- Labor’s $85 million commitment to combat postnatal depression will see the introduction of routine screening of mothers, together with the provision of better support and treatment for mothers, both in the lead up to the birth but particularly in those critical early weeks and months.
- Labor’s
$135 million National Cancer Plan includes:
- $15 million for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre;
- $15 million for independent clinical trials of drugs and research into cancer treatment;
- $25 million to screen 50 year olds for bowel cancer;
- $15 million in the construction of a new Children’s Cancer Centre at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH), Adelaide; and
- $50 million to establish a Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Sydney.
Labor has also matched the Coalition’s commitment to providing $41 million over 4 years for breast prostheses, specialist breast cancer nurses, and additional funding towards the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers.
- As part of Labor’s $260 million indigenous health package, Labor has committed $92 million for comprehensive indigenous child and maternal health services and $10 million for accommodation services for indigenous women who travel from remote to urban and regional centres to have their babies.
- Labor’s $6 million commitment to support the Specialist Obstetrician Locum Scheme on a continuing basis, and expand it to provide support to GP proceduralists, will improve obstetrician services to women in rural areas.
- Labor is committed to national maternity services planning to ensure a range of birthing options and support services – such as community nurses and midwives – are available across Australia, to ensure that women have appropriate care both in the antenatal and postnatal period.
- Labor wants to support parents to ensure that their children get off to the best start in life. In consultation with experts, Labor will develop a Healthy Kids Check, so that kids starting school receive an assessment of their basic health such as teeth, hearing, balance and sight – and produce a Healthy Habits for Life guide, providing practical information to help parents assist their children to develop healthy habits for life.
- In the first instalment of Federal Labor's dental policy, we have committed $290 million to 1 million consultations and treatments through public dental services.
“Labor’s national policy on women’s health will ensure the Commonwealth identifies and develops solutions specific to the health needs of women.”