Australian Healthcare System Notes
Overview of the Australian Health System
Jointly run by federal, state/territory, and local governments.
Aims to provide quality, safe, and affordable healthcare.
Key providers: GPs, medical specialists, allied health workers, nurses.
Medicare & public hospitals offer free/low-cost access; private insurance provides choice outside the public system.
Medicare
Universal healthcare scheme since 1984.
Three major parts: medical services, public hospitals, medicines.
Covers costs for public hospital services and some other health services (GPs, specialists, etc.).
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) makes prescription medicines cheaper.
Available to citizens, permanent residents, and those from countries with reciprocal agreements.
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
List of government-subsidized health services.
Features a safety net to reduce out-of-pocket costs after a certain threshold.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Makes medicines more affordable by listing brand name, generic, biologic, and biosimilar medicines.
Requires products to be proven safe and effective before sale.
Government pays the majority cost; individuals pay less, especially with a concession card.
PBS Safety Net further reduces prescription costs after a threshold is met.
Private Health Insurance
Two types of cover:
Hospital cover: For costs of hospital treatment as a private patient.
General treatment (extras) cover: For non-medical services like dental and physio.
Government provides a means-tested rebate to help with costs.
Primary Health Networks (PHNs)
Coordinate health services in local areas.
Support healthcare providers, coordinate different parts of the health system, assess local health needs, and provide extra services (after-hours, mental health, etc.).
Government Responsibilities
Australian Government:
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS).
Private health insurance regulation.
Primary healthcare quality.
Aged care services subsidization.
Health data collection.
Medical research funding.
Veterans' healthcare funding.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.
Doctor numbers and distribution.
Vaccine procurement.
Medicine and device regulation (TGA).
Hearing services subsidization.
Organ and tissue transplant coordination.
Blood product supply.
Health emergency coordination.
Food supply safety.
Radiation protection.
State/Territory and Local Governments:
Public hospital management.
Preventive services.
Community and mental health services.
Public dental clinics.
Ambulance services.
Patient transport schemes.
Food safety regulation.
Health premises regulation.
Shared Responsibilities:
Public hospital funding.
Preventive services (cancer screening).
Health professional registration.
Palliative care funding.
Mental health reform.
National health emergency response.
Health System Challenges
Ageing population.
Increasing chronic disease rates.
Rising costs of medical research and innovations.
Utilizing emerging health technologies.
Improving use of health data.
Cost of Healthcare
Funded by government, non-government organizations, private health insurers, and individuals.
In 2016-17, nearly billion was spent on health.
by the Australian Government.
by state and territory governments.
by individuals.
by private health insurers.
by non-government organizations.