The ACT’s peak doctors’ body says an independent review of the territory’s health system has validated longstanding concerns about governance, transparency, workforce pressures and access to care.

The review, conducted by former Queensland health director-general Michael Walsh and tabled in the Legislative Assembly this week, recommends reforms to health system governance, performance reporting, workforce planning and specialist care access.

AMA ACT president Betty Ge said the report confirmed many of the issues doctors had been raising for years.

“The Inquiry reinforces what doctors have been telling governments for years – that sustainable improvement requires stronger governance, meaningful clinician involvement in decision-making, greater transparency and practical solutions to expand capacity,” she said.

Among the recommendations are increased public reporting of health system performance, publication of specialist waiting-time data, improved clinical governance arrangements and measures to expand access to specialist services.

The report also highlights options including specialist eConsult services, greater use of GPs with special interests, virtual outpatient models and contracting private specialists to provide publicly funded care.

Dr Ge said the findings reinforced the need for long-term planning to ensure workforce growth, hospital infrastructure and service capacity keep pace with Canberra’s growing population.

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