What people are saying – the role of the College
Posted on February 28, 2014 in RACP
As I phone and email people to canvas views on the future the College it is clear that the role of the College and how it functions are issues of concern. I spoke to someone in private practice, who is involved in some innovative health businesses, who does not think the health of Australia is business for the College. He thinks that the College should stick to matters that directly affect the practice of members and their patients. He agreed however that the future roles of our members in the health workforce of the future was important, and a good subject for discussion. Another person I spoke to, from one of the Faculties was concerned that the management of the College had become too centralised, with insufficient support and budget for decentralised activities by the various groups that make up the College.
I think these are some interesting views raised. Certainly although the college’s role appears to be primarily on administration and advocacy for physicians the way in which we practise will certainly be altered by the way health trends are changing in Australia. To some extent I think we should consider health promotion also.
I am not a member of RACP but have been involved in health care as a clinician, health service executive and academic for many years. I am wondering, if the health of Australia is not a primary concern of all medical colleges, whose concern is it? I remember about twenty five years ago listening to a dinner speaker who was an economist trying to his message across the clatter of the knives and forks of the assembled medical professionals (about 100) – his message, that as a group, doctors were the single most influential group in all matters clinical and medico-political. If we abrogate our collective responsibilities to the community, then the health of the Australians as determined by public policy and the health of the system of health care would be left to the vagaries of the political process. His point was that, in an increasingly cash strapped health care system, the role of the medical profession in constructively informing public policy and advocating for evidence based health care reform was critical. I think this message is still relevant today and hope it gets a better reception than it seemed to then.
Thanks Shyamalee and Lynn for your comments. Strong support for organisation’s like the College having a role in health policy. I have seen some recent data showing that doctors are still a trusted voice, so good point about that. Other College members would prefer the College to focus on activities of immediate concern to their work, but I think in the future they will be one and the same. There is little doubt that health care is changing – better use of IT, greater focus on prevention, development of primary care; and with it the roles of the groups who make up the College will change too. To be active in shaping the roles of physicians in the future, the College will need to be active in the shape of healthcare. One and the same.