ANZCA Bulletin June 2012 - final.pdf - Australian and New Zealand ...

ANZCA and government:building relationshipsANZCA continues to workwith the Australian andNew Zealand governmentswhich both handed downtheir budgets in May.AustraliaAged-care boost in budgetThe Australian government’s 2012-13budget, released in May, was consistentwith previous commitments made to thehealthcare system. The biggest ticket itemin the recent budget was a $3.7 billiondollar aged-care package, with additionalsupport for dental health, the NationalBowel Cancer Screening Program, healthinfrastructure projects, as well as ehealth.The government’s commitment toehealth was expanded with additionalfunding to support the roll out of thePersonally Controlled Electronic HealthRecord (PCEHR) over the next two years.Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has takena number of opportunities to promotethe PCEHR as a cost-effective methodfor managing the health information ofAustralians, in the lead up to the system’slaunch on July 1.Recent ANZCA submissionsANZCA continues to advocate on behalfof Fellows, providing submissions togovernment and health stakeholders ina variety of areas. ANZCA has recentlymade submissions to the:• Medical Board of Australia’sconsultation on the board fundingexternal doctors’ health programs.• The Australian Institute of Health andWelfare’s consultation on Nationaldefinitions for elective surgery urgencycategories.• The Australian Health WorkforceMinisterial Council’s Development ofNational Criteria under the NationalRegistration and Accreditation Scheme.• Health Workforce Australia in responseto its proposed Health ProfessionalsPrescribing Pathway in Australia.ANZCA’s past submissions, including theCollege’s accreditation submission to theAustralian Medical Council, can be foundat www.anzca.edu.au/communications/submissions.ANZCA recently met withrepresentatives from Health WorkforceAustralia regarding the ongoing healthworkforce 2025 study into the supply anddemand of medical practitioners witha focus on the data on the anaesthesiaworkforce. The College is providinginput into a report for Australian healthministers due later in the year.Specialist Training ProgramThe Specialist Training Program (STP) hasmade significant achievements over thepast four months. All funding agreementswith hospitals have been finalised, mosthospital reports have been received, andpayments have been made to supportthe training positions. ANZCA has beendeveloping systems to streamline theprocesses involved in managing the 37training positions across anaesthesia,pain medicine and intensive caremedicine.The College has made it a priorityto develop networks with STP stafffrom other colleges, in order to shareknowledge and experience, in additionto continuing to engage with governmenton training in expanded settings. The2013 STP application round has recentlyclosed. ANZCA, including the Faculty ofPain Medicine, received 23 applications,which were assessed for funding.The Australian Department of Healthand Ageing will assess the College’sassessment, as well as those made by therelevant health jurisdictions. The resultsof the application round are expectedlater this year.ANZCA is working with regional/rural/remote area sites through the RuralSupport Loading Grant (RSL) to assistthese sites to meet costs of supportingtrainees. All inquiries regarding theRSL and the 2013 STP application roundshould be directed to the STP projectmanager at stp@anzca.edu.au.38 ANZCA Bulletin June 2012