World class organ donation system planned for Australia
The Rudd Government today appointed Karen Murphy as the chief executive officer of the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority to commence from 1 January 2009.
The new Authority will be charged with implementing the Government’s $151.1 million reform package to lift Australia’s low rate of organ and tissue donation.
The Authority will provide national leadership for a new coordinated donation and transplantation system for Australia.
Domestic donation rates are well behind other Western nations like Spain, the USA and Germany. Although Australia is a world leader in transplant surgery, a long standing shortage of organs and tissue for transplantation means that thousands of Australians suffer each year while on transplant waiting lists. This is despite an overwhelming public support for the issue – more than 80% of Australians are willing to donate.
Murphy is an experienced CEO, with a proven record of successfully managing change in large organisations and working collaboratively across both the public and private sectors. She has successfully managed the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane from 2001 to 2006 and most recently was CEO of RemServ.
Murphy will bring to the role a combination of experience in business and senior management with clinical qualifications – having originally trained and practiced as a radiographer and ultrasonographer – and a sound knowledge of the Australian health sector.
2009 marks an important turning point for organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Australia. Led by Murphy, the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority will drive forward the Government’s $151.1 million reform package, bringing together clinicians and the community to create a world-leading, coordinated and consistent national system. This nationally significant program of initiatives are based on the proven practices of the world’s top performing countries and are designed to work together to make a real difference to the quality of life enjoyed by thousands of Australians.
Recruitment will start shortly to build a new network of medical specialists and senior nurses with dedicated responsibility for optimising organ and tissue donation in our hospitals.
In parallel, a public information campaign will give Australians the facts about organ and tissue donation for transplantation so that they can make an informed decision about donating their organ and tissue to save the lives of others should the circumstances ever arise. The campaign will stress the most important action that Australians can take is to discuss their wishes with their family, so that their loved ones can have confidence in confirming that decision.
The new Authority will continue the Australian Government's close partnership with the states and territories, clinicians, and the community to build a nationally coordinated system that will save Australian lives.
Murphy will be supported in her role by an advisory council made up of members with diverse skills and experience, including business, legal, finance, clinical practice, the health consumer sector and public administration (at a Commonwealth, state or territory level). The Government will announce the membership of the advisory council early in 2009.
Hi,
When healthcare is self financed, the individual pays for their own healthcare “out-of-pocket,” likely from a savings account set aside for this purpose. This system grants the individual the most freedom, but also the most responsibility as it will be entirely up to them to decide how much money to appropriate for healthcare, which conditions to see a doctor about (as opposed to treat at home), and what behaviors to engage in.