IN DEPTH
KRISTER PARTEL, Advocacy Director, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association to September 2019
Health system reform— how far have we come? Progress against AHHA’s Healthy people, healthy systems blueprint. AHHA held a Blueprint Refresh Roundtable
of Agreement now signed by 6 of the 8 states and
session on 2 September 2019 for AHHA members
territories acknowledges the need for new long-
to evaluate progress made to date against the
term health system reforms.
recommendations from AHHA’s 2017 health system
‘Overall, we’re seeing the intent to re-orient the
reform blueprint, Healthy people, healthy systems.
health system to be patient-centred, outcomes-
The blueprint outlines how to transform our
focused and value-based’, AHHA Chief Executive
healthcare system into a fit-for-purpose 21st century
Alison Verhoeven said. These aspects of healthcare
system that would meet the needs and expectations
were expressed as key principles in the February
of Australians by focusing on value and outcomes.
2018 Council of Australian Governments heads of
Re-orienting the system is key
agreement on hospital funding and health reform.
Since the release of Healthy people, healthy systems the Council of Australian Governments has agreed a number of health reforms aligning with the recommendations in the blueprint. The 2018 Heads
‘Value-based healthcare is about better outcomes for patients relative to costs—or the right care in the right place at the right time by the right provider’, Ms Verhoeven said.
The Health Advocate • OCTOBER 2019
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