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Australia’s Health System Set for Biggest Reform in 25 Years
Australia, July 29, 2009 – The Australian Government has unveiled its proposal for a total revamp of the nation’s health system. The final report drawn up by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission was released yesterday.
It recommends substantial changes that would benefit several sectors, including those in the remote areas of Australia. The national government is taking responsibility for the treatment of children and elderly as well as drug and alcohol patients. Aside from Commonwealth takeover of primary healthcare services, it also proposes 40 percent federal funding for hospitals and a universal dental plan.
The proposal outlined 123 recommendations. If it pushes through, this would be the biggest overhaul of the country’s health system since 1984.
The proposal will be open for comments for the next six months before it is put forward to Australia’s eight states and territories that currently manage public health.
The recommendations are estimated to cost between AUD$2.8 billion (US $2.3 billion) and AUD $5.2 billion per year, said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The commission is suggesting that the government impose a 0.75 percent tax on wages to pay for the dental program. Meanwhile, revisions to Medicare should be covered by a 1.5 percent increase in income tax.
Source:
bloomberg.com
