Why

Policy Examples

In 1978 the World Health Organisation declared that people have a "right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care" (World Health Organisation, 1978).

In Australia, the 1993 National Health Strategy called for a health system with a framework that facilitated greater public participation, arguing that individuals and community groups should participate in making decisions about the resourcing, planning and managing of health services (National Health Strategy, 1993). Momentum for this process grew when the then Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (now Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing) established the Consumer Focus Collaboration in 1997. A key vision of the Collaboration was a health system that enabled health consumers to participate collaboratively with health organisations in the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of health services (Consumer Focus Collaboration, 1998, p.ii)

The contribution of consumers and communities in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health care has been an important aspect of ongoing improvements to the safety and quality of the Australian health system (Consumer Focus Collaboration, 2001, p.2).

States promoting consumer participation through health policy and programs include -

Australian Capital Territory - Health Action Plan 2002, pages 27-29.
Also available is the response of the Health Care Consumers Association of the ACT.
New South Wales action plan, summary and project report

South Australian Health Reform and New Governance
Victoria Consumer Information & Participation Program
Western Australia - A Healthy Future for Western Australians.
Also available is the response of the Health Consumers' Council, Western Australia.

National policy promoting consumer participation with a specific focus include -
Rural Health - Healthy Horizons 2003-2007, page 7 plus an overview in the attached summary.