Advocacy at RACS

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has a strong history of advocacy across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to effecting positive change in healthcare and the broader community by adopting informed and principled positions on issues of public health.

We regularly advocate for these positions across a number of different mediums, including the media, public campaigns, or by direct negotiating or the provision of written submissions to both Government and non-Government agencies.

Over the last few months some of the advocacy work the College has undertaken included:

Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan

RACS Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee (AoNZNC) recently made a submission to the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s Proposals for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and death in Aotearoa New Zealand and it continues to have a significant impact on Māori and Pasifika health inequities. The AoNZNC generally supports the proposals put forward, which are designed to eliminate the smoking of tobacco products in Aotearoa New Zealand within the next five years.

ACCC consultation on Honeysuckle and nib

Honeysuckle Health Pty Ltd (HH) and nib Health Funds Ltd have sought authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for HH and nib to form and operate a buying group. The intent is that the buying group will collectively negotiate and administer contracts with healthcare providers (including hospitals, medical specialists, general practitioners and allied health professionals) on behalf of participants for a period of 10 years. The College sent in an initial submission to the ACCC on 11 March 2011.

Following the initial consultation process, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation, with a condition, for five years. Interested parties were invited to make a submission on the draft determination, to which RACS responded on 14 June 2021. The College also published a media release on 28 June highlighting our concerns with the draft determination.

A pre-decision conference was held on 8 July 2021. At this conference, RACS expressed concerns for managed care and the dominance of the private health insurer buying group seizing a sizable market share with the potential for anti-competitive cartel behaviour. A third submission is currently being prepared to further emphasise these points.

Australian MBS Review Taskforce Report and the 21 recommendations

In previous issues of Surgical News we have provided updates on the work of Medicate Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce. At the end of 2020 the Taskforce provided a final report, which detailed 21 recommendations.

RACS broadly supports the recommendations. A submission has been completed and sent. Some key points include advocating for out-of-pocket transparency, more funding for health registries, establishment of a continuous review mechanism, and urging caution in response to the proposed establishment of a Medical Fee Complaints Tribunal.

First meeting of the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee

On 7 July, RACS’ new Health Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC) held their inaugural meeting.

In addition to the HPAC members, the first meeting was attended by RACS President, Dr Sally Langley. Attendees discussed the role of HPAC, and it was agreed that the committee will help determine advocacy priorities for the College and oversee the development of strategies in relation to these priorities.

HPAC will assist with day-to-day policy activities, such as the development of submissions, preparations for hearings, and responses to policy queries. HPAC will make recommendations to the Professional Standards & Advocacy Committee (PSAC), the Vice President, the President and Council.

The Committee is chaired by Professor Mark Frydenberg and the remaining members will be finalised in the coming weeks. We will continue to keep you updated on the composition and activities of HPAC in future issues of Surgical News.

Want to know more about RACS Advocacy? Every four to six weeks RACS distributes an Advocacy in Brief newsletter, which includes detailed updates on recent RACS submissions from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, active consultations and engagement opportunities, and various other items of interest.

If you would like to be added to the distribution list for future issues, please email the RACS Policy and Advocacy Team at RACS.Advocacy@surgeons.org

All submissions are available to read in the Advocacy section of the RACS website.