PSA on mental health
July 2, 2010
THE PSA has welcomed plans by
the Federal Opposition to boost
mental health services, but has
warned that they must not be
funded at the expense of other
health services and initiatives.
Revealed this week, the plans
would see around $1.5 billion
worth of “arguably overdue” funds
funneled into front-line mental
health services, including 80 new
mental care facilities, 60 of which
would be tailored towards
Australian youth.
“[The] PSA is particularly
concerned at any suggestion that
the Opposition would remove
funds from eHealth to fund its
promises,” said PSA national
president, Warwick Plunkett.
“eHealth is the missing link in
enabling genuine collaborative
primary health-care teams to work
effectively and improve the
wellbeing of all Australians,” he
added.
In representing its case the PSA
said that e-health had been a long
time coming and that “there is
demonstrable evidence that
eHealth records will go a long way
in reducing hospitalisations and
improving the wellbeing of all
Australians”.
Plunkett also said that it was
essential that any future plans for
mental healthcare in Australia
should be designed to integrate
and include pharmacists.
“Pharmacists need to be better
incorporated into any mental
health policy given the dependence
of most sufferers on compliance
with their medication regimen and
the role pharmacists can costeffectively
play in achieving that
outcome,” Plunkett said.
See www.psa.org.au.
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