Community group questions cohealth decisions ahead of government review

A community advocacy group has raised concerns about the actions of inner-city health provider cohealth, questioning how recent government funding has been used as an independent review into the organisation’s services nears completion.

Save Our Community Health, a grassroots campaign advocating for local clinics, says recent service changes at cohealth sites in Kensington, Collingwood and Fitzroy are causing confusion and harm for vulnerable patients.

The group’s comments come after the federal government provided up to $1.5 million late last year to keep cohealth’s general practice services operating until July 31, 2026, while an independent review examines the organisation’s GP model, governance and financial sustainability.

According to Save Our Community Health, despite the funding intended to maintain services during the review period, cohealth has reduced several programs.

The group claims counselling staff have been dismissed, a pharmacy dispensing service has been closed, and access to GP appointments has been restricted.

“Despite the $1.5 million to continue to keep doors open at Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington, cohealth sacked counselling staff, closed the cost neutral pharmacy dispensing service and are restricting General Practice appointments,” the group said in a media release.

“Where has the $1.5 million gone?”

Save Our Community Health spokesperson and psychiatrist Dr Brian Stagoll said the situation was creating significant concern among patients and the broader health sector.

“The closure by cohealth of critical community health services is causing significant harm and much confusion. The situation is critical,” Dr Stagoll said.

He warned that disruptions to services could have wider implications for the healthcare system.

“Public hospitals are being impacted, with patients who would have received vital medications in the community now relying on acute care services,” he said.

The group is also urging governments to prevent any further reductions in services while the review process is under way.

“We call on governments to stop cohealth from further service closures and any attempt to sell the Collingwood site,” Dr Stagoll said.

The Collingwood centre has long been a key community health facility in Melbourne’s inner north, and campaigners argue it should remain a public health asset.

In response, a cohealth spokesperson said the organisation continued to provide general practice services at Collingwood, Kensington and Fitzroy, supported by a joint funding commitment from the federal government and cohealth that allowed services to remain open until July 31, 2026 while the independent review was under way.

The spokesperson said cohealth continued to work closely with clients and community partners to support continuity of care while the review was being finalised.

“Cohealth is grateful to the many community members who have shared with us what matters most in their health service,” the spokesperson said.

They said three community and client engagement events were held in December and January to hear directly from communities about their care and priorities, and that the voices and experiences of clients and community had informed cohealth’s submission to the review.

The spokesperson added that cohealth supported efforts to identify “sustainable, long-term solutions for primary care that are compassionate, coordinated and grounded in trust”.

While confirming changes to some services, cohealth said general counselling services at its Collingwood, Niddrie, Footscray, Fitzroy and Kensington sites concluded on December 19, 2025, following changes to how funding is claimed under the Victorian Department of Health’s Community Health Program.

According to cohealth, clients needing counselling support were assisted to access other wellbeing services delivered by the organisation, while local providers were also engaged to ensure safe and supported transition arrangements.

Cohealth also confirmed that the pharmacy at its Collingwood site, independently operated by Integrated Pharmacy Services, permanently closed on January 30, 2026.

The spokesperson said cohealth and IPS had spent the past decade trying to identify sustainable ways for the pharmacy to remain available, but that “a long-term solution could not be secured”.

They said pharmacists and cohealth staff had worked with clients to transition their medications and support to nearby pharmacies.

The concerns emerge at a sensitive moment for cohealth.

As previously reported by sibling publication CBD News, the organisation is currently the subject of a joint Commonwealth and Victorian government review examining its general practice service model, clinical operations, governance and financial viability.

The review was launched after cohealth announced plans late last year to close GP services in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Kensington, sparking concern among patients, clinicians and health advocates.

The independent panel, led by health economist Professor Stephen Duckett alongside Professor John Furler and community health leader Jane Seeber, is expected to deliver its findings to governments soon.

In January, cohealth also appointed former Scope chief executive Kate MacRae as its new board chair, replacing Kerry Thompson after nine years on the board.

Health sector observers say the review’s findings will be crucial in determining whether cohealth’s inner-city GP services can be sustained beyond the current funding extension.

Save Our Community Health says it will closely examine the review’s conclusions once they are released.

“The community eagerly awaits the public release of the findings of the Independent Review,” the group said.

“We will respond to the findings once they are known.” •