Research Australia Leadership INSIGHTS Issue 4 | Alastair Furnival – Principal, Evaluate
One of the happier consequences of the COVID era has been the rapid increase in recognition and respect for public health leaders. Our Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) have never been held in higher esteem.
This offers an important opportunity to rebalance health policy. Previously, most political debate about health has been driven by short term considerations: will there be enough funding for the drugs and doctors I need if I or my family fall ill? Public health activity has mostly been relegated to campaigns to remind us that smoking is fatal whereas sunscreen is lifesaving.
In contrast, the last year of café conversation (where cafés were permitted) has included consideration of what infrastructure is required to quickly respond to an epidemic, and whether lockdowns, masks, travel bans and vaccinations were being appropriately handled.