The Australian Ethical Health Alliance (AEHA) continues to be the leader of a movement for improved ethical conduct and collaboration in the healthcare sector. AEHA aims to improve healthcare in Australia through the articulation and affirmation of ethical principles that promote the interest of access to safe and effective healthcare.
In 2020, AEHA was recognised as a globally-benchmarked model for ethics consensus frameworks by the Basel Institute of Governance and the Alliance stimulated discussion on the topic by holding a sector-wide symposium on 'Ethics in the healthcare sector and its importance during times of crisis'.
In the short time since AEHA’s formation in 2018, the Alliance has made considerable progress in delivering the ethical implementation activities determined by the healthcare community. In AEHA’s inaugural submission year (2020), 30 per cent of AEHA member organisations submitted an annual Self-Evaluation Form, which evaluates an organisation’s success in achieving ethical best practice. AEHA is thrilled at the submission rate and will continue to encourage additional member submissions through the formation of exemplars and ongoing reporting mechanisms.
The future of AEHA is bright. It was recently agreed that AEHA would develop a new AEHA Strategic Plan and that a sector-wide workshop would be held in May 2021. It was also agreed that a second AEHA Symposium would be held in April/May 2021 on the topic of the ethics of vaccination, and that AEHA would launch social media platforms in March 2021.