Reimagining Specialist Access Requires System Leadership: RACMA Response to Grattan Report 

RACMA has welcomed the Grattan Institute’s Special Treatment report as a timely prompt for system-wide reform to improve access to specialist care across Australia. 

RACMA supports the report’s recommendations to expand public outpatient clinics, invest in flexible rural training pathways, and improve digital health integration – measures designed to make care more accessible, affordable and equitable. The College also welcomes the proposed increase in government funding to support these changes, including the recommendation to invest an additional $9 million annually to grow specialist training capacity. 

RACMA President Professor Erwin Loh said the findings highlight the need for long-term leadership that can connect clinical expertise with system-level action. 

“Australia’s health system remains one of the best in the world – our public and private mix provides choice and strength,” Professor Loh said. 

“But when people face long waits or unaffordable fees, that strength doesn’t reach everyone. True system quality demands true system equity.” 

The report makes clear that rising costs and limited access are symptoms of deeper structural issues. RACMA believes that real reform must be led by those with the expertise to navigate complexity and deliver integrated, sustainable change. 

“Health systems are unsustainable in their current form,” Professor Loh said. 
 
“We need leadership that pairs clinical insight with governance, strategy and delivery – that’s where RACMA-trained leaders make the difference.” 

RACMA calls for continued focus on: 

• Expanding public specialist access in underserved regions 
• Building rural and future-focused training pipelines 
• Better-integrated care models linking GPs and specialists 
• Governance frameworks that embed equity and sustainability.

As the only specialist medical college dedicated to health leadership, RACMA remains committed to developing the leaders needed to deliver and sustain the next era of healthcare reform.