The Senate Inquiry is a result of a Labor-led political alliance (Labor,
Democrats, One Nation, Independents) to establish a national inquiry into
the health system and find ways to reduce waste and costs. The Liberals are
on record as saying that a national investigation is unnecessary.
The Inquiry intends to deal with funding waste between Commonwealth and
States and cost pressures across all aspects of our health care system,
especially those related to medical technology.
Not widely publicised, submissions to the inquiry were due in on 6/8/99
(last Friday). I gather some key `stakeholders' (a term currently in vogue
in Canberra) are requesting more time to submit.
At the Maternity Coalition we managed to get our submission in by the
deadline - no mean achievement I promise you.
We focussed upon maternity services, place of birth, provider of care,
private and public differences unrelated to the individual health status of
women, safety, cost-effectiveness, unnecessarily high levels of
intervention, lack of informed choice - the list goes on. We backed up our
statements with substantial evidence which promotes midwife-managed care in
a range of birth settings, and a woman-centred approach to pregnancy and
birth.
This inquiry is a quite unique opportunity to review the ways in which
maternity care is provided in this country. Details about the inquiry are
available from the Committee Secretary, Senate Community Affairs References
Committee: tel. (02) 6277 3515, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Good luck.
Irene Shaw
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