The future of primary healthcare reform and its challenges will be debated and deliberated when international healthcare leaders meet in Brisbane next week.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) will join national and international primary healthcare organisations, policy makers, consumers, researchers and clinicians from March 14 – 16 for the 3rd International Primary Health Care Reform Conference (IPHCRC) to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead in healthcare reform.
RACGP President Dr Frank R Jones said many of the themes to be covered at the conference linked back to the RACGP’s Vision for general practice and a sustainable healthcare system, which was launched last year to lead the future direction of primary healthcare in Australia.
“Internationally, health systems are struggling to service their ageing populations and the rise in obesity, chronic conditions and comorbidities, coupled with cuts to healthcare funding,” Dr Jones said.
“It is imperative Australia’s health leaders work with our international counterparts to devise the best way forward to continue delivery of world-class healthcare for our patients.”
This year’s key themes will focus on new models of care, funding reform, health system integration, e-health, quality and capacity development, performance measurement, managing healthcare in transition, and improving the healthcare value proposition for consumers of care.
IPHCRC Chair Professor Claire Jackson said the conference was well-timed to position reform in Australia.
“If 2015 was the year for reviews of our healthcare system, surely 2016 will be the start of the process of shaping our healthcare system for the future,” Prof Jackson said.
“The leaders, national and global, working together to generate innovation throughout the conference will provide a fertile environment to take our healthcare system forward.”
Internationally recognised speakers include:
- Prof J. Nwando Olayiwola, Director of the Centre for Excellence in Primary Care; Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Ms Robin Osborn, Vice President and Director, International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations, The Commonwealth Fund, New York, USA
- Prof Kevin Grumbach, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Family and Community Medicine, San Francisco, US
- Dr Rachael Addicott, Head of Research, The Kings Fund, London, UK
- Mr Martin Bowles, Secretary, Department of Health, Australia
- Dr Steve Hambleton, Chair, National Primary Health Care Advisory Group, Australia
The IPHCRC is sponsored by the RACGP, University of Queensland, Mater Health Services and the Australian Government Department of Health and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Visit the IPHCRC website for more information and to register.