Our increasing use of hospital services is out of control and unsustainable and is contributing to the current crisis in accident and emergency (A&E). But the problem isn’t new and 30 years of NHS…
Based on current evidence, expanding these services is the right thing to do.
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In the ninth part of our series Health Rationing, Stephen Duckett examines the government’s decision to extend the breast cancer screening program.
As one of many pre-budget teasers, Health Minister…
Health rationing assessments compare different aspects of health such as pain, anxiety, mobility and social interactions – but what’s more important?
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In the seventh part of our series Health Rationing, Richard Norman and Rosalie Viney explain the controversial system governments use to decide what will and won’t be covered under Australia’s universal…
The health budget isn’t limitless: decisions have to be made about to how to allocate funding between competing choices.
AAP/Dave Hunt
In the sixth part of our series Health Rationing, Mark Mackay examines the latest think tank blueprint to rein in Australia’s rising health costs. But he warns that before funding models are adjusted…
The current fee-for-service model makes it difficult to contain costs and boost the quality of care.
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In the fourth part of our series Health Rationing, Peter Sivey explains why it might be time to abandon Medicare’s fee-for-service model.
Teachers aren’t paid a fee for each lesson they teach, nor are…
We need a more rational debate about how and where we spend our finite health budget.
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HEALTH RATIONING – a series which examines Australia’s rising health costs and the tough decisions governments must make to rein them it.
Any mention of the “R” word in health care immediately brings…
The biggest and fastest-growing spending category in health is hospitals.
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With health costs rising and costly medical innovations on the horizon, it’s crunch time for health funding. In the lead up to the May budget, The Conversation’s experts will explore the options for reining…
The broad economics of the scheme and the fine details of its implementation remain unclear.
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While the Labor party’s misguided leadership coup hogged the limelight last Thursday, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill passed through parliament.
The government also announced the…
There’s no reason the Australian taxpayer should pay such high prices for medicines when our overseas cousins don’t.
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The Commonwealth could save A$1.3 billion each year by reforming the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), according to a report released today by the Grattan Institute. The report, Australia’s bad drug…
It’s time to rethink Australia’s specialist-driven health workforce and rise to the challenge of chronic disease management.
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Data released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the nation’s health care bill is rising rapidly, from $77.5 billion in 2000-2001 to $130 billion in 2010-11. The largest increases…
Research should be routinely translated into clinical practice.
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Last year the federal government asked my colleagues and I to investigate the state of health and medical research in Australia and make recommendations about the strategic direction of the sector.
After…
Health services are ripe for evidence-based reform.
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Each year $120 billion is spent on health services in Australia. But hardly any research is done to investigate whether this money is being used wisely.
Only 2.8% of the funding for NHMRC project grants…
Aged-care residents are among the most vulnerable in our society, with many reliant on pensions.
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Recent media reports have highlighted an anomaly in residential aged-care funding in Australia: that day-to-day operations of facilities are governed by both Commonwealth and state government policies…
The package should reduce waiting times for people who are eligible for publicly-funded dental care.
Luke Siemens
Since the government announced its $4 billion dental care program, attention has focused on how it will be funded and whether it is affordable. But if and when it is funded and implemented, the package…
The poor suffer the greatest burden of disease but are less able to deal with the costs.
Brooks Elliott
Australia is facing an epidemic of chronic lifestyle-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and chronic lung disease. We have many treatments for these that aren’t necessarily…
Australia has failed as a nation to properly consider the root causes of most illness and disease.
Keoni Cabral
A person’s health is strongly influenced by that person’s wealth. In the past, we thought this was because higher incomes meant better access to health care; we thought this was why the rich lived longer…
At the end of the four years, only 5% of Australians with a disability will be covered.
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Last night’s budget contained an important step towards realising a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with $1bn allocated over the next four years. Of these funds, $342.5 million will pay for…
We need to rethink our aged care workforce and funding for dementia patients.
Alex E Proimos
Last week, Alzheimer’s Australia released a report that was highly critical of the way Australia’s aged care sector responds to the needs of dementia suffers and their families.
It’s an issue that demands…
Plain packaging is one of many health reforms to enter or pass through parliament last week.
AAP
The final sitting of federal parliament last week lacked no drama, ending with the sudden induction of Peter Slipper as speaker. It was also a mammoth week for health legislation, with the passing of the…
If the government wants to support private health, it should fund the system directly.
Robin Thom
The government’s plan to means test the 30% private health insurance rebate faces an uncertain future after yesterday’s scheduled parliamentary debate was delayed.
Under the scheme, singles with health…
Preventive health is the the biggest loser in the health deal.
AAP
The deal’s been done and health reform is in the bag. It may not be quite as bold as originally planned by then prime minister Rudd – there’s even been a fair amount of watering down on Julia Gillard’s…
Home help is much more effective than written instructions from a doctor.
The new Victorian Health Plan 2012-22 offers a bleak prognosis: forever rising medical costs, doctors in the wrong places, hospitals overwhelmed.
To make matters worse, it claims that patients can’t be…
The government has made a mistake by not listing pain drug Targin on the PBS.
J Hawk
In an attempt to contain growing health costs, the Australian Government has resisted recommendations to subsidise the pain medication Targin on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.
Not only is this…
