A Healthier Future for all Australians - Final Report June 2009

30 June 2009

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Minister

It is my great pleasure to present the Final Report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.

A Healthier Future For All Australians: Final Report is the culmination of 16 months of discussion, debate, consultation, research and deliberation by a team dedicated to the cause of strengthening and improving our health system for this and future generations of Australians.

We acknowledge the many people who contributed to our work through consultations and submissions – including governments, health professionals and other experts, health and consumer interest groups, and members of the general community.

Our Final Report builds on the work of our two earlier reports – Beyond the Blame Game (April 2008) and A Healthier Future For All Australians: Interim Report (December 2008). With the needs and interests of the Australian people at the centre of our thinking, our reform agenda urges action to:

  • Tackle the major access and equity issues that affect people now;
  • Redesign our health system to meet emerging challenges; and
  • Create an agile, responsive and self-improving health system for future generations.
We present more than 100 recommendations to transform the Australian health system. Some will have an immediate impact; others will take time to implement; and still others are for further development.

Health reform does not happen overnight. It takes time and patience, commitment and goodwill from all of us. But we also believe that there is a pressing need for action, and health reform must begin now.

My fellow Commissioners and I have been privileged to be part of this historic opportunity. We thank you for entrusting us with this important work.

We commend our report to you and the Government in the hope that our efforts will contribute to a sustainable, high quality, responsive health system for all Australians now and into the future.

Yours sincerely

Dr Christine Bennett

Chair
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission


ISBN: 1-74186-940-4
Publications Number: P3 -5499

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca

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