Media Statement - 5th November 2007
Shadow Minister for Health Nicola Roxon today announced that a Rudd Labor Government would develop a National Men’s Health Policy.
Australia’s first – and to date, only - National Women’s Health Policy was launched under a previous Labor Government in 1989, but a National Men’s Health Policy is needed to deal with issues affecting men’s health.
Federal Labor acknowledges that too little attention has been given to men's health needs. Some health issues – like prostate cancer – affect only men while other health issues – such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and injuries – affect more men than women.
Australian men have a lower life expectancy and greater levels of serious morbidity than women. Many also tend to defer or ignore health issues – as reflected in lower use of health services.
To accompany its recent commitment to a new National Women’s Health Policy, a Rudd Labor Government will also develop a national policy on men’s health. This will be done in consultation with State and Territory governments, health service providers, consumer and advocacy groups and Australian men.
The policy will be particularly focused on reducing barriers that men experience in accessing health services, tackling widespread reticence amongst men to seek treatment, improving male-friendly health services and raising awareness of the range of preventable health problems that disproportionately affect men and which result in generally poorer health outcomes for Australian men.
Labor’s National Men’s Health Policy will also address specific groups of men who experience higher morbidity and mortality rates, including Indigenous men and men living in rural and remote communities.
A range of Federal Labor’s recent health initiatives will particularly impact on men’s health:
- Labor’s $600 million elective surgery plan will slash waiting lists for hip, knee, and hernia procedures.
- Labor’s $135 million National Cancer Plan includes $15 million to establish two dedicated Prostate Cancer Research Centres – the first in Australia. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men. The centres will develop improved diagnostic and screening tools as well as new treatments for prostate cancer.
- A Rudd Labor Government will also invest $25 million over three years to screen all 50 year olds for bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Australian men, after prostate cancer.
- 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 men and their families.
Labor’s national policy on men’s health will ensure that the planning and delivery of health services better meets the needs of Australian men.