Primary care in focus as nation’s health leaders meet

From urgent care clinics to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, the agenda was wide-ranging at a conference for hundreds of primary care leaders in Canberra this week.
 
Hosted by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA), the two-day conference went under the banner Integrating Collaboration, Policy and Technology and was attended by RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, RACGP Vice-President Dr Ramya Raman and RACGP CEO Georgina van de Water.
 
DoHDA secretary Blair Comley’s plenary address on the opening day included an update on the status of Strengthening Medicare reforms.
 
‘There was a recognition that there have been a lot of reforms and that it’s going to take time for GPs and other providers to trust that the Government isn’t going to make more changes,’ Dr Wright told newsGP.  
 
‘And that there definitely needs to be investment in primary care and more consultation to build that trust.
 
‘A highlight has been seeing a number of GPs representing the college and Primary Health Networks, but most importantly, representing our patients and practices and community care.’
 
Other sessions included an address from Federal Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd, while Medicare Mental Health check-in service, homelessness services, multidisciplinary teams and emergency preparedness were among the topics covered.
 
RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health Chair Dr Tim Jones also spoke at a segment on the Thriving Kids initiative, which is coming into effect later this year.
 
Representatives from Australia’s medical colleges, including the RACGP’s Ms van de Water, also gathered on Monday for the AMA’s Colleges, Associations and Societies Meeting, where more than 50 groups discussed health reform, innovation and disease prevention.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

advocacy Canberra primary care