National Indicator Catalogue (NIC)

This National Healthcare Agreement affirms the agreement of all governments that Australia's health system should:

1. be shaped around the health needs of individual patients, their families and communities;
2. focus on the prevention of disease and injury and the maintenance of health, not simply the treatment of illness;
3. support an integrated approach to the promotion of healthy lifestyles, prevention of illness and injury, and diagnosis and treatment of illness across the continuum of care; and
4. provide all Australians with timely access to quality health services based on their needs, not ability to pay, regardless of where they live in the country.

This Agreement identifies the long term objectives of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments as:

1. Prevention: Australians are born and remain healthy;
2. Primary and Community Health: Australians receive appropriate high quality and affordable primary and community health services;
3. Hospital and Related Care: Australians receive appropriate high quality and affordable hospital and hospital related care;
4. Aged Care: Older Australians receive appropriate high quality and affordable health and aged care services;
5. Patient Experience: Australians have positive health and aged care experiences which take account of individual circumstances and care needs;
6. Social Inclusion and Indigenous Health: Australia's health system promotes social inclusion and reduces disadvantage, especially for Indigenous Australians; and
7. Sustainability: Australians have a sustainable health system.

REF: http://www.coag.gov.au/intergov_agreements/ federal_financial_relations/docs/ IGA_FFR_ScheduleF_National_Healthcare_Agreement.rtf