Less than 50 days until State Election and no Coalition health commitments: MSAV
The Medical Scientists Association of Victoria is very concerned that the Napthine Coalition Government has not produced any policies on healthcare with less than 50 days to go before Victorians elect their next Government.
“It is extremely troubling that we have the Napthine Coalition Government, having been in office for four years, yet to produce a single policy about healthcare and its future,” said Paul Elliott, Executive Officer of the Medical Scientists Association of Victoria.
“The Napthine Government delivered nothing in this year’s budget to address the state’s health problems; and treats Victorians with contempt by not releasing policies so all Victorians know how Napthine intends to deliver world-class healthcare.
“Having shiny advertisements and nicely worded media releases about healthcare doesn’t mean anything without the policies behind them to deliver world’s best healthcare. And to date we have seen nothing from the Napthine Government about how it’s going to deliver world’s best healthcare when it has slashed health funding by $850 million.
“The Napthine Government can’t expect to improve health outcomes by only investing in bricks and mortar while ignoring the need for highly qualified staff, and standing by as essential services, like pathology, are privatised.
“This is about making sure Victoria has the best and brightest scientists, psychologists and pharmacists working in our hospitals and community health centres delivering high quality outcomes for patients.”
Paul Elliott continued:
“To truly improve health care outcomes for Victorians, the state government must invest in its workforce; stop outsourcing services to providers only interested in profits; and end the dumbing down of the workforce required to deliver quality health outcomes to patients.
“The MSAV calls on the Napthine Government to release its policies on healthcare, rethink its healthcare spending and focus on rebuilding the professional health workforce needed to meet growing demand.”
