Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Health funding

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (21:12): (292) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, and the action I am seeking is a guarantee that a genuine and substantial preventative health funding stream will be established by this government. In the last state budget we have once again been let down by Labor’s underinvestment in preventative health. Investment in preventative health is recognised as a global priority, and yet Australia ranks a lowly 20 out of 33 countries in the OECD for health expenditure dedicated to prevention. Trying to deal with health conditions after they have already developed is like putting an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff to wait for people who have fallen off. Putting up a fence to prevent people from falling in the first place is easier, cheaper and better for everyone concerned.

We could actually prevent at least a third of chronic physical health conditions. Many preventable hospitalisations in Victoria are linked to chronic conditions associated with alcohol, tobacco and obesity. By targeting these risk factors through prevention programs, we can reduce the burden on our hospitals and healthcare resources. For every $1 invested in prevention we save $14.30 in healthcare costs. However, the economic benefits extend well beyond the health budget bottom line. People who are healthier are more productive, more engaged and less likely to experience poverty. Preventative health initiatives have a profound impact on equity. By addressing underlying social determinants of health and promoting preventative health measures we can help bridge the gap in health disparities among different socio-economic groups.

With population growth, an ageing population and an increasing burden of chronic diseases, it is imperative that we develop a comprehensive strategy and set targets for preventative health that prioritise keeping people healthy and out of hospital. Despite all this it is staggering that only 2 per cent of our health spending is directed towards prevention while over 75 per cent is allocated to ambulance and hospital services. This imbalance places strain on our health system and threatens its long-term sustainability. We will never be able to build enough hospital beds to keep up with demand if we do not massively pivot our focus to prevention. I urge the minister to prioritise preventative health in our state’s budget and the allocation of health resources.