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Australia reforms healthcare system

By Phumeza Tontsi
Johannesburg, 09 Jun 2011

Australia reforms healthcare system

Mental health, electronic patient records and keeping people out of hospital will be priorities of a new Hunter-based primary healthcare network, reports Newcastle Herald.

The region was revealed as one of the first 19 locations nationally to establish a Medicare Local.

The federal government, as part of its national health reform programme, is setting up Medicare Locals to replace divisions of general practice.

It has allocated $477 million over four years to establish the network. The Hunter's GP Access organisation will become a Medicare Local from 1 July.

According to the CIO, the selected organisations will engage in the government's e-health agenda and participate in early stages of initiatives such as the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record as well as provide a local response to services and integration across healthcare.

“Throughout all of our reform consultation, different patients spoke of their confusion and difficulty finding their way through Australia's complex health system,” minister for health and ageing, Nicola Roxon said in a statement.

“Many people would praise their local GP, or allied health worker, but would also say how difficult it was finding the right service at the right time.

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