The Health Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC) at RACS continues to contribute to national health policy through submissions to the Australian government on a range of key issues. These include access to and affordability of specialist care, the sustainability and accessibility of the private health system, and greater fee transparency across health care.

Inquiry into Access to and Affordability of Medical Specialists in Australia
RACS welcomed the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability Inquiry Into Access to and Affordability of Medical Specialists in Australia. The College supports the inquiry’s objective of improving equitable access to specialist care and reducing the cost burden on patients.

RACS’ submission to the Inquiry was informed by its Access to Surgery, Sustainability and Patient Affordability Survey, which captured the views of more than 700 surgical Fellows practising across Australia. This is one of the most comprehensive surveys of its kind undertaken by a specialist medical college together with existing College policies, member consultation and system-wide evidence.

Access and affordability challenges across Australia’s health system are complex and systemic. In this context, RACS welcomes the emphasis the Committee places on these challenges and the considerable time devoted to examining these issues in detail. RACS is committed to supporting the Inquiry, including sharing detailed insights from the survey and the expertise of the Fellows. 

Read RACS’ submission.

Private Health Sector Reform Consultation Paper 1
In its submission on the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's Consultation Paper 1 on private health reforms, RACS expressed broad support for the proposed reforms.

RACS views it as an important step towards improving the sustainability and accessibility of Australia’s private health system.

However, RACS argued the reforms do not adequately address the crucial role of surgical services and the specialist workforce, which underpin the viability of private hospitals and elective surgery capacity.

RACS highlighted in its submission that private hospitals perform the majority of elective surgery in Australia and have been critical in reducing public hospital surgery backlogs since COVID-19. Despite this, the sector faces growing financial pressures, hospital closures, workforce shortages, and rising costs of surgical practice. The College emphasises reform should be assessed not only through a private health insurance lens but also in terms of its impact on patient access, hospital capacity, workforce sustainability and service viability.

Read RACS’ submission.
Read the Department’s Private Health Sector Reform Consultation Paper 1.

Fee Transparency in Health Care: Informed Financial Consent & Split Billing Practices Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Consultation
RACS responded to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the Department)’s consultation on Fee Transparency in Health Care: Informed Financial Consent and Split Billing Practices.

Informed financial consent (IFC) is an essential component of ethical and patient-centred clinical practice. Effective IFC builds trust between patients and clinicians, reduces uncertainty surrounding treatment costs, and supports shared decision-making.

The College strongly supports initiatives that improve patient understanding of healthcare costs, strengthen informed decision-making, and promote transparency throughout the patient journey. 

Addressing fee transparency alone will not address inequity of access to healthcare. Accordingly, RACS supports the development of a long-term strategy to maintaining a balance between the public and private sector.

Read RACS’ submission.