A national framework to support government investment in prevention

This document provides a framework on how to support government investment in evidence-based prevention programs that improve long-term outcomes for the community and reduce demand for future care services. This blueprint discusses the main barriers to government investment – financing, governance, evidence to support action, and leadership and political will. It provides case studies on hypertension and sepsis that demonstrate the benefits of prevention programs in health.

This document provides the following recommendations on how best to support Australia’s investment in prevention:

1. Establish a task force on the prevention and treatment of chronic disease that reports to the Ministerial Council on Health
2. Commit to making prevent a key long-term, holistic governmental priority
3. Reform the governance of prevention to establish clear, agreed roles and responsibilities between jurisdictions, supported by a funding agreement.
4. Develop and fund an implementation plan for the National Preventive Health Strategy and empower the Australian Centre for Disease Control to lead its implementation.
5. Identify key evidence and prioritise their funding, including modelling studies to determine long-term impacts
6. Establish a knowledge sharing network to support learning across jurisdictions
7. Develop a prevention investment framework to guide investment decision.
8. That the Commonwealth establish an expert advisory committee similar to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and Medical Services Advisory Committee to evaluate prevention initiatives.