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Business View Australia - August 2015 33
active participation in various issues
concerning public health, makes it an
important contributor to promoting
a robust health care system in the
country.
Referring to the role of the PHAA
and its primary areas of focus
within Australia’s health system,
Melanie Walker says, “We want
to see an increasing emphasis
on prevention within health.
Traditionally, preventive health only
attracts a small portion of the health
expenditure of any government and
we would like to see a greater focus
on prevention rather than on acute
care.
“We would like to see a greater
investment in keeping people well
and keeping them out of hospital.
This would also reduce the cost
of the health sector as a whole. If
we remain focussed on the acute
sector we will continue to see rising
expenditure on health.
“That is one of our big goals. We
also put in a great deal of effort to
ensure that there is no contraction
in government expenditure on public
health initiatives.”
Melanie Walker
HEALTHCARE