The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has released its pre-Budget submission delivered to the Government this month, which outlines solutions to improve Australia’s health system and patient outcomes.

In the submission, Physiotherapy: A Path to Better Care, the APA details new and advanced pathways to strengthen care for all Australians.

 APA National President Scott Willis says healthcare reform is essential and that the pandemic has shown what quick reform looks like.

“The APA’s vision is that all Australians will have access to quality physiotherapy, when and where required, to optimise health and wellbeing,” Mr Willis said.

“Physiotherapy is a critical and essential service for all Australians. It’s time to publicly fund it. The APA has strong solutions to strengthen care for all Australians.

“Health reform isn’t cheap - but it is essential.

“The pandemic has shown us what reform at pace can look like. We have seen how achievable it is to remove the barriers to make true health system transformations when needed. We must maintain this momentum to address the significant structural, governance and funding inefficiencies that remain in the Australian health system,” Mr Willis said.

The APA is calling on the Government to prioritise the structural changes that matter most to Australians, including connecting patients to the most clinically appropriate and cost effective health care. Our solution lies in specialist referral and lifting barriers to allow physiotherapists to directly refer patients and to fund imaging requests for patients.

Investment in public funded First Contact Physiotherapy will provide better and faster access to diagnosis, treatment and care of musculoskeletal pain and conditions. Significant gains will also be found by expanding public physiotherapy to prevent and treat injury, and for persistent pain, chronic disease and long-Covid sufferers.

The APA’s comprehensive pre-Budget submission sets out how the Government can strengthen and reform the health system:

Improve the patient pathway by addressing the structural barriers to reform.
Reform primary health care through new public funded physiotherapy treatment pathways.
Shift priorities to ensure those most in need are not waiting for care.
Implement health care reform by acting on the many plans already in place.

“Our submission shows the Government a way forward to reorient the health system towards primary care encompassing physiotherapy. We provide new ways to address social determinants and health inequity through new physiotherapy-led models to strengthen care and reduce health disparities.

“Better outcomes for patients can be delivered by investing in sustained, integrated, team-based care encompassing high-value physiotherapy.

“Physiotherapy provides a path to better health and wellbeing but for too many Australians access is denied or inadequately funded. The physiotherapy profession is a fundamental provider of high-quality, evidence-based care for ageing Australians, veterans and those living with disability,” Mr Willis said.

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Scott Willis is available for comment.