THE protection of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Indigenous communities is at the forefront of a $2.4 billion coronavirus (COVID 19) health package announced today by the Prime Minister.
Older Australians in nursing homes will be protected through a major funding boost of $101.2 million to educate and train aged care workers in infection control, and enable aged care providers to hire extra nurses and aged care workers for both residential and home care.
Additional aged care staff will be available for deployment to facilities as needed, where an urgent health response is required and to provide extra support for staff and training.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will receive additional funding to work with providers on improving infection control.
Funding will also be provided for pathology testing to be conducted in aged care facilities and masks and other personal protective equipment will be distributed to aged care facilities for staff as needed.
$100 million will fund a new Medicare service for people in home isolation or quarantine, as a result of coronavirus, to receive health consultations via the phone or video such as FaceTime or Skype.
The telehealth service will be bulk-billed and available from Friday, March 13.
The Government will also provide $25 million to fund home medicines services which will enable patients to have their PBS prescriptions filled online or remotely, and have the medicines delivered to their home.
This service will be available for people in home isolation and for vulnerable patient groups.
All pharmacies with e-prescribing will be eligible to participate in the home medicines services and patients will continue to retain choice in their preferred community pharmacy.
To support GPs and pharmacies, the Government will fast track the rollout of electronic prescribing across Australia with funding of $5 million.
Patients will have access to services via the GP, telehealth, the national hotline, state hotlines, dedicated respiratory clinics and hospitals.
The national triage phone line will be expanded with an additional $50.7 million in funding, operating 24/7 to provide advice to patients.
The free-call hotline will advise people on the best course of action depending on their symptoms and risks. Medical staff will direct people to the nearest hospital or respiratory clinic, or advise them to stay home and self-monitor, or contact their GP.
People who are not severely ill with COVID-19 (80 per cent of people will have a mild illness) will be directed to GPs or a network of well-resourced GP-led respiratory clinics.
$206.7 million will be spent on up to 100 dedicated respiratory clinics which will be one-stop-shops for people who are concerned they may have the virus, to be tested and isolated from other patients.
$58.7 million will allocated to help prevent outbreaks in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities , including the tools to proactively screen visitors and fly-in, fly-out workers, additional support to evacuate early cases if required, and mobile respiratory clinics to quickly respond to outbreaks where there is no hospital or available health service.
Dedicated Medicare funded and bulk billed pathology tests for COVID-19 will be established at an expected cost of $170.2 million. Patients will receive both the COVID-19 and flu test.
The government will also spend $30 million on educational campaigns to provide people with practical advice on how they can play their part in containing the virus and staying healthy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government was ensuring Australia's health system was well-prepared and had the resources it needed to fight coronavirus and protect the community.
"Australia isn't immune but with this $2.4 billion boost we're as well prepared as any country in the world.
"This package is about preventing and treating coronavirus in the coming weeks.
"Our medical experts have been preparing for an event like this for years and this is the next step up in Australia's plan.
"Our Government alongside the country's leading medical experts is working around the clock to ensure we have the right tools, information and resources to keep Australians safe," he said.
Coronavirus Health Info line: 1800-020-080
Health Direct: 1800-022-222