The next Australian Federal election will be held in May 2022. RACS has identified eleven key focus areas relevant to the election:
- Building respectful and safe workplaces for all who work in surgery and the wider health sector
- Guaranteeing the public sector provides timely access to essential surgery
- Expanding surgical (and other specialist) services in rural areas
- Expanding surgical (and other specialist) services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Protecting the public by restricting the title ‘surgeon’ to those with accredited advanced surgical training
- Improving care through appropriate clinician-led patient outcome data collection and dissemination to clinicians, understanding the many unintended consequences of non-risk adjusted release to the public
- Ensuring the Medicare Benefit Schedule provides equitable access to health services and remains contemporary
- Preventing incremental moves to US-style ‘managed care’ and ensuring our mixed healthcare system continues to thrive
- Reducing death and serious injury on our roads
- Safeguarding the health of all Australians from the threat of climate change
- Committing to health security and long-term health systems strengthening in the Pacific
RACS has written to all political parties seeking their response to a range of questions.