Yuting Zhang, The University of Melbourne; Jongsay Yong, The University of Melbourne, and Ou Yang, The University of Melbourne
Governments spend billions of dollars every year to encourage us to take up private cover. But our research shows this does little to reduce pressure on the public system.
Hospitals are struggling, with ambulances ramping outside emergency departments and patients facing long waits for care. But doing more of the same won’t fix the problem.
Singapore will start charging people who choose not to be vaccinated for any COVID-related hospital care. While Australia’s hospitals are also under pressure, we shouldn’t follow suit.
Eliana Close, Queensland University of Technology; Ben White, Queensland University of Technology; Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology; Simon Young, University of Southern Queensland; Tina Cockburn, Queensland University of Technology, and Will Cairns, James Cook University
Who gets scarce life-saving resources when hospitals are overwhelmed? And how are these decisions made? State and territory governments are yet to answer these difficult questions.
From the benefits of telehealth to the importance of integrating public and private systems, the COVID-19 pandemic offers several valuable lessons for Australia’s health system.
Elective surgeries have been halted as part of the health system’s response to coronavirus. But many are unnecessary and shouldn’t be rescheduled after the pandemic ends.
Private hospitals will be on the frontline in the coronavirus battle, under an arrangement with the federal government that makes available the sector’s more than 30,000 beds and 105,000 workforce.
Australians should now be practising social distancing to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. By creating more space between yourself and others you decrease the risk of person-to-person…
New private health insurance data show young people are continuing to drop their cover. But the industry’s argument a youth exodus will put pressure on public hospitals isn’t necessarily right.
Protesters in London gather in support of the National Health Service.
Simon Dawson/Reuters
As candidates propose ways to provide health insurance for more people, it’s important to know that some proposals could have unexpected consequences, including potential closure of public hospitals.
Labor has promised A$8 billion in new health expenditure, while the Coalition has focused on the difference new pharmaceuticals can make to individual Australians.
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Medicare is a vote-changer. The Coalition learnt this in the 2016 federal election campaign and has since guaranteed its commitment to the program. But that may not avert a Mediscare 2.0.
The Coalition’s record on health is patchy, at best. Meanwhile, Labor is already campaigning hard on Medicare.
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When you enter a public hospital, you are likely to be asked if you have private health insurance, and if you want to use it. This is what you need to consider.
The funding proposal is no fix for Australia’s health system but it could take some political pressure off the Coalition in the lead up to the 2019 federal election.
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