The Treasurer today announced that the Productivity Commission will undertake a research study into health workforce issues.
The study has been endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments and will help governments to improve their understanding of the workforce-related pressures facing the health system.
The Treasurer noted that, in establishing the study, all governments have demonstrated a willingness to collaborate in addressing important health workforce issues which require a national approach.
“The commitment, care and professionalism of all those who contribute to our health system is crucial to the successful delivery of services across the nation, and all governments in Australia are naturally concerned about the current issues facing the health workforce,” the Treasurer said.
The Treasurer indicated that the Productivity Commission will examine issues affecting the health workforce including the supply of, and demand for, health professionals. “Governments understand the need for efficient and effective delivery of health services to all Australians in an environment of demographic change and technological advances. The study will inform policies for continued delivery of quality health care into the future.”
The study will look at issues such as: institutional, regulatory and other factors across the health and education sectors affecting the supply of health workforce professionals; the structure and distribution of the health workforce; and factors affecting the demand for services.
The study is to be completed by 28 February 2006. The Commission will shortly invite expressions of interest from anyone wanting to participate in the study. All interested parties are encouraged to make submissions.
The terms of reference for the study are attached. Further information on the study is available on the Productivity Commission website at: www.pc.gov.au.
Terms of Reference
HEALTH WORKFORCE STUDY
PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION ACT 1998
The Productivity Commission is requested to undertake a research study to examine issues impacting on the health workforce including the supply of, and demand for, health workforce professionals, and propose solutions to ensure the continued delivery of quality health care over the next 10 years. The study is to be undertaken in the context of the need for efficient and effective delivery of health services in an environment of demographic change, technological advances and rising health costs.
In undertaking the study, the Productivity Commission will have regard to the National Health Workforce Strategic Framework and other relevant bodies of research.
Background
Australian governments agree that the success with which health services are delivered across the nation is advanced through the commitment, care and professionalism of the Australian health workforce.
Accordingly, on 25 June 2004, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to commission a paper on health workforce issues, including supply and demand pressures over the next 10 years. COAG also agreed that the paper should address the issue of general practitioners in or near hospitals on weekends and after hours.
For the purpose of this study, ‘health workforce professional’ includes the entire health workforce, from those trained in the vocational education and training (VET) sector to medical specialists. The education and training sector includes vocational, tertiary, post-tertiary and clinical education and training.
COAG Resolution
COAG agreed:
“HEALTH
COAG today discussed the issue of health and reiterated the importance of moving ahead on improving health services.
COAG agreed to commission a paper on health workforce issues, including supply and demand pressures over the next 10 years. The paper will take a broad, whole-of-government perspective, including health and education considerations, and will cover the full range of health workforce professionals. In considering these issues, the paper will look at the particular health workforce needs of rural areas.
It was also agreed that the paper will address the issue of general practitioners in or near hospitals on weekends and after hours.
This paper will be considered by COAG within 12 months.”
Scope
In reporting on Australia’ss health workforce, the Productivity Commission should:
1. Consider the institutional, regulatory and other factors across both the health and education sectors affecting the supply of health workforce professionals, such as their entry, mobility and retention, including:
(a) the effectiveness of relevant government programmes and linkages between health service planning and health workforce planning;
(b) the extent to which there is cohesion and there are common goals across organisations and sectors in relation to health workforce education and training, and appropriate accountability frameworks;
(c) the supply, attractiveness and effectiveness of workforce preparation through VET, undergraduate and postgraduate education and curriculum, including clinical training, and the impact of this preparation on workforce supply;
(d) workforce participation, including access to the professions, net returns to individuals, professional mobility, occupational re-entry, and skills portability and recognition;
(e) workforce satisfaction, including occupational attractiveness, workplace pressure, practices and hours of work; and
(f) the productivity of the health workforce and the scope for productivity enhancements.
2. Consider the structure and distribution of the health workforce and its consequential efficiency and effectiveness, including:
(a) workforce structure, skills mix and responsibilities, including evolving health workforce roles and redesign, and the flexibility, capacity, efficiency and effectiveness of the health workforce to address current and emerging health needs, including indigenous health;
(b) analysis of data on current expenditure and supply of clinical and non-clinical health workers, including the development of benchmarks against which to measure future workforce trends and expenditure; and
(c) the distribution of the health workforce, including the specific health workforce needs of rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas and across the public and private sectors.
3. Consider the factors affecting demand for services provided by health workforce professionals, including:
(a) distribution of the population and demographic trends, including that of indigenous Australians;
(b) likely future pattern of demand for services, including the impact of technology on diagnostic and health services; and
(c) relationship between local and international supply of the health workforce.
4. Provide advice on the identification of, and planning for, Australian healthcare priorities and services in the short, medium and long-term, including:
(a) practical, financially-responsible sectoral (health, and education and training) and regulatory measures to improve recruitment, retention and skills-mix within the next ten years; and
(b) ongoing data needs to provide for future workforce planning, including measures to improve the transparency and reliability of data on health workforce expenditure and participation, and its composite parts.
In doing so, the paper should take into account existing Australian research and overseas developments that have demonstrated success in providing a flexible response to emerging trends.
5. Provide advice on the issue of general practitioners in or near hospitals on weekends and after hours, including the relationship of services provided by general practitioners and acute care.
6. Consult widely, including with peak industry, representative and community organisations, and relevant government agencies and public authorities.
7. The Commission is to produce an issues paper by 31 May 2005, provide a draft report, and produce a final report by 28 February 2006.