In a time of growing populations, hospitals must guarantee access, ensure quality, minimise the chances of anything going wrong, and do it all within the available budget. So they need to change.
Fron Jackson-Webb, The Conversation and Wes Mountain, The Conversation
What are the most common reasons for going to hospital? What can go wrong? What’s behind the state-Commonwealth funding fight? Our at-a-glance infographic has the answers.
The 2016 increases range from 3.8% for the Doctor’s Health Fund, to just under 9% for CUA health Fund.
thipjang/Shutterstock
We start 2016 with big challenges for the health system and uncertainty as to how governments will meet them.
A snapshot of 2015: health reviews, Health Check series, thalidomide series, Medicare versus private health insurance.
AAP; Shutterstock; Julian Smith/; Dave Hunt/AAP
This was the year of the health review – mental health care, Medicare, private health insurance, the pharmacy industry … and the list goes on. But how much movement was there on policy?
A significant proportion of the growth in Medicare costs has been driven by government policies such as items for new services and larger rebates.
Rido/Shutterstock
The Coalition tried to justify its failed GP co-payment as an attempt to rein in consumers, who were driving the increase in Medicare costs. Turns out government policy was mostly to blame.
Australia addresses some risk factors better than others.
Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock
Chronic diseases are responsible for nine out of ten deaths in Australia, and for much of the public health expenditure that’s causing governments so much concern.
The scheme would be mandatory but consumers would be able to choose their preferred provider.
Shutterstock/Kinga
Nicola McCaskill, The Conversation and Sasha Petrova, The Conversation
Australians are picking up some of the slack of government belt-tightening by paying more for health, with experts concerned this could reduce the equity in Australia’s health system.
Still waiting.
People in waiting room via www.shutterstock.com.
It looks like where you live, and what regulations that state has for health insurers, may have a major impact on whether you are diagnosed early or not.
The PBAC must make tough decisions about which cancer drugs to subsidise.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters
Most of us would agree that cancer drugs should be listed on the PBS, no matter how dear. But our health system can’t afford all of them. How then are decisions about which drugs to subsidise made?
Older people are more likely to drop out of the workforce for good when they’re sick than young people.
Bacho/Shutterstock
Economic modelling shows that policies to reduce chronic diseases can have large economic benefits –A$4.5 billion a year for diabetes alone – by reducing health costs and boosting the workforce.
Ineffective care exposes patients to complications and side-effects and waste precious health care resources.
Jim Young/Reuters
State and territory leaders will meet in Sydney today to nut out solutions to health and education funding gaps. But what exactly is the problem they’re hoping to address?
Public hospital funding is in a critical condition.
Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock
Any health reform proposals should start by addressing public hospitals and chronic care. But successful change in these areas requires getting the state-Commonwealth funding and incentives right.
Women make up 90% of the world’s nurses.
EPA/Ahmed Jallanzo
Data analysed from 32 countries shows women make a huge economic contribution that often goes unrecognised (and unpaid).
Billions were expected to be saved from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – but surprisingly the budget only outlines $252 million in savings.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The big surprise about this year’s health budget was what wasn’t there – billions of dollars in expected savings from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne