Indigenous health equality gets plan

It will take at least another 16 years for the indigenous community to reach health equality, the federal government estimates.

Rural Health Minister Fiona Nash, launching the 10-year implementation for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan, says providing structure and setting "achievable goals" will ensure the 2031 target is met.

"I am very confident we will be able to realise these goals with the sector," she said.

The plan sets out 20 new goals that deal broadly with improving the health of pregnant women, reducing smoking, tackling diabetes, providing more health checks and achieving better immunisation rates.

Four out of 10 indigenous people smoke, and the death rate for diabetes is three times higher in indigenous communities, something Ms Nash says is unacceptable.

"There is no way doing nothing is an option, we have to act."

The plan was initiated by Labor in government under the then indigenous health minister Warren Snowden.

The Abbott government adopted and developed the plan, collaborating with the indigenous sector over two years to build the 10-year road map.

Mr Snowden has thrown his support behind the plan.

Lowitja Institute CEO Romlie Mokak, who was integral in formulating the plan, says further work during the 10 year timespan must be considered.

"We've got to be ambitious in the short term but play the long term," he said.

The plan aims to provide indigenous children with at least one health check a year up to the age of four, increase the percentage of indigenous youth who have never smoked and immunisations for children under one.