ASoP at Parliament House in Canberra

This week, the Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) was proud to represent psychiatry at Parliament House in Canberra, participating in a national roundtable on access and quality in healthcare convened by Avant Mutual.

The discussion brought together health leaders from across the specialties, policymakers and parliamentarians, including The Hon. Mark Butler, Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the Australian health system: ensuring patients can access specialist care when they need it.

A clear theme emerged throughout the day: affordability and access are now firmly on the national policy agenda.

There was strong recognition that out-of-pocket costs are influenced not only by what clinicians charge, but also by the level of public investment in healthcare. Any serious conversation about affordability must include an honest discussion about Medicare rebates, which have failed to keep pace with the real cost of delivering care.

Equally important is the availability of public specialist services. When public outpatient clinics cannot meet demand, the burden is shifted to patients, who are often left with little choice but to seek care privately, wait longer than is clinically appropriate or go without care altogether.

ASoP CEO Dr Pramudie Gunaratne joined Christine Gee AM, President of the Australian Private Hospitals Association, for a panel discussion on the relationship between the public and private sectors. In mental health, this issue is particularly acute.

Mental health is increasingly becoming a barometer for the pressures facing the broader health system. Recent reductions in private mental health services, alongside growing demand and constrained public capacity, have highlighted just how interconnected the system has become. The challenges our patients experience today often foreshadow the challenges that will emerge across healthcare tomorrow.

These conversations matter. The decisions made in the coming years will shape access to specialist care for millions of Australians and it is vital that psychiatry has a voice at the table.

ASoP will continue advocating for better access to care, a sustainable specialist workforce and a health system that meets the needs of people living with severe and complex mental illness.