Advocacy at RACS

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 several different platforms, including the media, public campaigns, or by negotiating directly or providing written submissions to both government and non-government agencies. In the last two months some of the advocacy work the College has undertaken includes:

Diabetes management in adults There are now 1.2 million Australians living with diabetes, mostly Type 2, but the numbers of both major types of diabetes continue to rise. Diabetes is now estimated to cost this country $2.9 billion per year. Much of this cost comes from the management of the complications of the disease—more than the disease itself. This is demonstrated by the fact that the lifetime cost of managing diabetes in someone who suffers complications is five times that of someone whose diabetes is well managed and hence is uncomplicated. Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors have been shown to improve blood glucose control, reducing complications, but are currently only funded for children—funding is removed at age 18 and 21, respectively. South Australian Committee Chair Dr David King and RACS President Dr Sally Langley wrote to the federal health minister lending support to a campaign by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation seeking funding for these technologies for all Australians.

RACS recently wrote to the Australian health minister to raise awareness of the increasing epidemic of diabetes and diabetes-related complications, many of which are unfortunately surgical diseases. Our letter supported a campaign seeking funding for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for adults. The letter is available on the RACS website.

South Australian 2022 state election The South Australian state election was held on 19 March 2022. Prior to the election RACS sent an election priorities document to all the main parties contesting the election. Their responses were posted on the RACS website and shared with the local membership. The Malinauskas Government was elected and replaces the Marshall government. The new Minister for Health and Wellbeing is the Hon. Chris Picton, who was previously the opposition health spokesperson. Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 RACS recently completed a submission to the Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 [Provisions]. Our submission covered RACS concerns regarding the legislative interpretation of ‘inappropriate practice’ and ‘Notice to Produce’ evidence in document form and the clash with privacy laws. Our submission supported procedural fairness and the right to an appeal. We are concerned if errors are misconstrued as false or deliberately misleading practice by a surgeon or their practice. You can read the RACS submission on our website. National Medical Workforce Strategy After three years of consultation, the Australian National Medical Workforce Strategy (NMWS) was quietly released on 20 January 2022. The strategy aims to guide long-term medical workforce planning across Australia. Recommendations arising from this strategy are in close alignment with RACS Rural Health Equity Strategy. The government’s strategy presents many opportunities for RACS to have an impact. As such, we are assessing how it will affect surgical training and service delivery with the goal of supporting our workforce to ensure the current and emerging health needs of the communities we serve are met equitably. The National Medical Workforce Strategy report can be accessed at the Department of Health website.

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