The budget gets on with the job of implementing the health policies already promised. But there’s still more to do to get the new government’s policy settings right.
Walking has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, bowel and breast cancers, osteoporosis and diabetes. New data shows it also reduces the need for hospital care.
This is a steady-as-she goes budget, mostly just confirming pre-announcements with only the expected unpleasant decisions, such as the continuation of the Medicare rebate freeze.
Sasha Petrova, The Conversation and Nicola McCaskill, 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.
Health took a back seat in this year’s federal budget. While the proportion of money being spent on health is increasing in 2013-14, the bulk of it is due to spending commitments made in previous budgets…
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne