The Liberal and Nationals Government’s Long-Term National Health Plan is providing Australians with access to quality medical care, record hospital funding, affordable life-saving medicines and breakthrough research for new drugs and treatments.
Our goal is to make our health system even stronger and to ensure it is the best in the world.
By keeping our economy strong we will ensure the essential health services that Australians rely on, such as Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Medicare funding is at record levels. Almost nine out of 10 Australians who visit the doctor have no out of pocket costs with GP bulk billing rates at a record 86 per cent, up from 82 per cent under Labor.
We are keeping down the cost of health care by increasing funding for diagnostic services such as MRIs for women with breast cancer.
In partnership with GPs, we will improve options for more flexible care to meet the needs of patients and to keep them healthy and out of hospital with a $1.6 billion package to strengthen primary care.
Australians have access to the latest medicines through the PBS – with reduced costs on more than 2,000 new and amended medicines listings since 2013, thanks to an investment of $10.6 billion. These medicines are saving and changing lives.
Record funding will be provided for public hospitals with an additional $31 billion from 2020-21 to 2024-25 to employ more nurses, doctors and specialists, delivering – in partnership with the states and territories – more surgeries and medical services.
With one in five Australians affected by a mental health disorder, we are expanding support services particularly for young people. We are working to address the nation’s suicide rate with the largest youth suicide prevention plan in Australia’s history focused on expanding headspace, indigenous youth suicide prevention and supporting children and their parents.
Australians living in rural and regional Australia have greater access to services including through new regional cancer centres, expanded telehealth services, regional clinical trial centres and increased opportunities for Australia’s rural and regional health workforce.
