Fed: Aboriginal health spending still inadequate: NACCHO

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2001
Fed: Aboriginal health spending still inadequate: NACCHO

By Elizabeth Gosch

CANBERRA, Aug 23 AAP - Small increases in spending on Aboriginal health did not address
inequalities suffered by indigenous people, indigenous leader Puggy Hunter said today.

Dr Hunter, chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
(NACCHO), said a report on indigenous health spending showed it was not enough given the
comparatively poor health of Aboriginal people.

"We all know that Aboriginal people have the worst health status of any Australians
and yet public expenditure for Aboriginal health is no different to other low income groups,"

Dr Hunter said.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) showed spending on indigenous
health increased in the three years to 1998/99 and more money was spent per Aboriginal
person than on each non-indigenous person.

The report found there were improvements in spending on health services for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people by all levels of government between 1995/96 and 1998/99.

Spending by government and private sources on health for indigenous Australians from
government and private sources rose by at least 15 per cent per person over the period.

"This compares with the 10 per cent per person increase in non-Indigenous health spending
over the same period," the AIHW said.

The total expenditure on indigenous health was $1.25 billion in 1998/99 - equivalent
to $3,065 per person compared with $2,518 for non-indigenous people, a ratio of 1.22:1.

AIHW spokesman John Goss said the figure for indigenous health spending was not much
higher than for the rest of the population, especially given the comparatively poor health
of Aborigines.

"Indigenous mortality rates are three times that of the general community - indigenous
people die on average 20 years younger than the average for all Australians," Mr Goss
said.

The report showed that indigenous people were low users of mainstream health programs
such as Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

"Indigenous people are high users of state government programs such as public hospitals
and community health services," Mr Goss said.

Dr Hunter said very little Aboriginal health funding was directed to where it would
make the most difference, like Aboriginal community-controlled, culturally-appropriate,
primary health care services.

At least an additional $245 million per year was needed to break the cycle of poor
Aboriginal health, Dr Hunter said.

AAP eg/daw/hu/br

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS HEALTH

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