As we age, access to quality healthcare becomes increasingly vital, and the strain on the system can often mean longer waiting times and delayed treatments.

In a move that received collective relief from Australians, the Federal Government announced a substantial investment which could be a beacon of hope for many.

The Federal Government gave Medicare a $1.7 billion boost aimed at bolstering public hospitals.

The funding should also jumpstart much-needed health reforms.

It should also alleviate the immense pressure the Australian healthcare system has been under, especially after COVID-19.

Hospitals across Australia should see changes brought upon by the billion-dollar boost. Image Credit: Pexels/Pixabay

The $1.7 billion fund was a one-off boost that should be distributed equitably across all states and territories.

The total Commonwealth funding for public hospitals and health services should reach $33.91 billion by the 2025-26 financial year.

This boost was more than just a number; it could also be a lifeline for the many Australians who have been waiting for essential medical procedures or struggling to access the care they need.

'Labor created Medicare, and we will protect it and strengthen it,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared, emphasising the party's historical connection to the healthcare system.

'Healthcare is the first issue I engaged with as a very young man; it's what brought me into politics; nothing's more important.'

Health Minister Mark Butler also opened up about the need to reform Australia's public health system.

'We have a terrific public health system, but it is a hospital system under very serious pressure,' Minister Butler stated.

The funding allocation has been carefully considered.

The Northern Territory should receive a $51 million boost, addressing what Butler described as 'grossly inequitable' conditions.

Other states should also see significant funding, with NSW receiving $407 million, Victoria with $402 million, Queensland with $414 million and Western Australia with $158 million.

South Australia should also receive $169 million, and both Tasmania and the ACT should receive $50 million each.

The announcement came on the heels of the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) call for a multibillion-dollar overhaul of Medicare.

The AMA's Modernise Medicare proposal wanted to address critical issues in healthcare and general practice across the country.

For seniors with regular medical needs, this funding could mean shorter wait times, more accessible GP services, and an overall improvement in healthcare services.

It's a step towards ensuring that Australians are supported by a healthcare system that is robust, responsive, and respectful of everyone's needs.

Key Takeaways

• The federal government announced a $1.7 billion boost to Medicare to strengthen Australia's public hospital system.
• The investment aimed to deliver structural health reform and should be distributed across all states and territories.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised the importance of healthcare and his commitment to strengthening Medicare.
• The funding was a response to the public health system's significant pressure.

How do you think will the $1.7 billion boost change your regular health check-ups? We would love to hear your thoughts on this development, so share your opinions and expectations in the comments below.

 

[Anthony Ellul]

You cannot help yourself. Hospitals have been struggling throughout this Government’s term but it is only now that they allegedly care enough to try to fix the problem. Why is it so? I will answer that. It is election time and polls are not that favourable. People, don’t be fooled. It takes time to get hospital and medical staff from overseas and from local training facilities so it will not suddenly improve your outcomes. This Government is and was more interested in climate initiatives than your health now. Also remember that a promise from this Government is only a promise.

 

[DLHM]

“…the immense pressure the Australian healthcare system has been under, especially after COVID-19.”

Why do you suppose that is? Why all the “new” problems after Covid19?

 

[darrellh]

The health system has been left languishing for a long time and state and federal governments have done little to fix or alleviate the problem. It has been all talk and no action. Hospital ramping has been getting worse here in WA and I believe most if not all States are in the same boats. Sports fixtures, big events and new venues are of more importance than voters health. Not good enough by a long shot.

 

[Millycat]

This Government has had three years to fix Medicare, as usual it was more interested in sending the taxpayers money to other countries, bugger Australia.
Now an Election on the Horizon, all false promises, money all of a sudden being promised to all and sunder.
Albo doing photo shots everywhere and as usual harping on about how we, the labor Government hear the people.
What a lot of rubbish, not only him but his cronies that are doing the same.
Do they really take us for fools.
Sounds like last election, only now what was promised is happening or should say looks as if it will happen, its completely false and laughable.

 

[Catherines]

I will stay out of the politics side without commenting on the why, how & what each party will or will not do to get votes. However, I will say that any improvement to our healthcare system will take time, many years, in fact.

Immigration of HIGHLY QUALIFIED doctors and nurses is a first step to fill the gaps immediately without the sarcasm of ‘immigrants’ coming into the conversation. Then training of our own, WHO WANT TO PURSUE THESE CAREERS, will take time and those careers MUST be undertaken only by people who genuinely want to do them and they MUST have a passion to do good. It’s no use saying governments need to train more doctors or nurses - they MUST WANT to be doctors and nurses and a proper and high degree of training is essential.

 

[elaine41]

I'll say it again - the quickest way to get more nurses on the floor is to return training to hospitals, not university. Maybe it could be a 2 layer system in the hospitals & call the hospital trained (the same training that was in existence before uni training came about) nurses could be called Practical Nurses because they would really do the practical work which those who are university trained think is below them & don't want to do them. This would quickly put 1st year trainees on the floor followed in the next 2 years by 1st & 2nd year trainees, the 1st, 2nd & 3rd year nurses. I believe there are many young women who would love to be nurses but do not have the ability to undertake uni training but would flourish as Practical Nurses. However, the govt won't even look at this idea, they just want to import fully trained nurses many of whom are not trained up to a high standard.

 

[Jash]

Strange that article!! hospitals are a state problem & no guantee that any money if given to the states will go into the Health/hospital systems.
Need more Doctor's & clinics, that comes under the jurisdiction of Medicare.
Must be an election coming.

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

No problems at all

 

[Veggiepatch]

People are quick to blame to current government for past issues with health care and Medicare.

Do you not remember that Gough Whitlam brought in the idea of a national health service?

Then in 1981, the Fraser government completely abolished Medibank. That worked well, didn't it?

Thankfully, the Hawke government reinstated Medibank, under the guise of Medicare, in early 1984.

The LNP has the covert notion of making Australia's health system a model on the US system, which discriminates against lower socio-economic sections of the population.

Let the rich get richer, while the poor can die in the streets.

Capitalist pigs!

 

[atomace]

You cannot help yourself. Hospitals have been struggling throughout this Government’s term but it is only now that they allegedly care enough to try to fix the problem. Why is it so? I will answer that. It is election time and polls are not that favourable. People, don’t be fooled. It takes time to get hospital and medical staff from overseas and from local training facilities so it will not suddenly improve your outcomes. This Government is and was more interested in climate initiatives than your health now. Also remember that a promise from this Government is only a promise.

Air bus albo is a lying corrupt imbacile Retard

 

[atomace]

People are quick to blame to current government for past issues with health care and Medicare.

Do you not remember that Gough Whitlam brought in the idea of a national health service?

Then in 1981, the Fraser government completely abolished Medibank. That worked well, didn't it?

Thankfully, the Hawke government reinstated Medibank, under the guise of Medicare, in early 1984.

The LNP has the covert notion of making Australia's health system a model on the US system, which discriminates against lower socio-economic sections of the population.

Let the rich get richer, while the poor can die in the streets.

Capitalist pigs!

you sound like a real Cabbage

 

[Veggiepatch]

you sound like a real Cabbage

You ARE a piece of Libel-al shit!

Go play in the traffic you gimp!

 

[Knell]

You cannot help yourself. Hospitals have been struggling throughout this Government’s term but it is only now that they allegedly care enough to try to fix the problem. Why is it so? I will answer that. It is election time and polls are not that favourable. People, don’t be fooled. It takes time to get hospital and medical staff from overseas and from local training facilities so it will not suddenly improve your outcomes. This Government is and was more interested in climate initiatives than your health now. Also remember that a promise from this Government is only a promise.

Right wing politicking!

 

[Knell]

Air bus albo is a lying corrupt imbacile Retard

Typical right wing politicking

 

[Trina G]

You cannot help yourself. Hospitals have been struggling throughout this Government’s term but it is only now that they allegedly care enough to try to fix the problem. Why is it so? I will answer that. It is election time and polls are not that favourable. People, don’t be fooled. It takes time to get hospital and medical staff from overseas and from local training facilities so it will not suddenly improve your outcomes. This Government is and was more interested in climate initiatives than your health now. Also remember that a promise from this Government is only a promise.

LOL It was the LNP that started the decline in Medicare while they were in office for nearly a very long decade. They believe in private health more. Anything public is not on their agenda. You are obviously a No-alition voter and it wouldn’t matter how good something Labor put forward you and your lot would find fault with it.

 

[Greentrees]

I will stay out of the politics side without commenting on the why, how & what each party will or will not do to get votes. However, I will say that any improvement to our healthcare system will take time, many years, in fact.

Immigration of HIGHLY QUALIFIED doctors and nurses is a first step to fill the gaps immediately without the sarcasm of ‘immigrants’ coming into the conversation. Then training of our own, WHO WANT TO PURSUE THESE CAREERS, will take time and those careers MUST be undertaken only by people who genuinely want to do them and they MUST have a passion to do good. It’s no use saying governments need to train more doctors or nurses - they MUST WANT to be doctors and nurses and a proper and high degree of training is essential.

Over the years numerous students with a strong desire to become doctors have been overlooked because the AMA has kept the entry marke at a very high level to to keep entrants down protecting the incomes of doctors.

 

[RealityCheck]

Really SDC, you need to stop printing government media releases as if they are gospel-truth! This is spin, pure & simple.

Every 5 years until now the Feds & States negotiate a new "5 Year Agreement" on Hospital (State run) funding. In fact, Albo & Butler FAILED to get the deal done (even with the Labor states!) & had to settle for a 1 year interim deal. Yes, there's more money, but that always happens every 5 years, so in fact there's nothing special, & they've simply kicked the can down the road to be the next Government's problem.

And if you critically read the release, you'll note the clear contradictions. Albo says,
'Labor created Medicare, and we will protect it and strengthen it' yet Butler disagrees stating, '...it is a hospital system under very serious pressure,'

As they say, "How can you tell when a politician is lying? Their lips are moving"!

 

[Towing]

I will stay out of the politics side without commenting on the why, how & what each party will or will not do to get votes. However, I will say that any improvement to our healthcare system will take time, many years, in fact.

Immigration of HIGHLY QUALIFIED doctors and nurses is a first step to fill the gaps immediately without the sarcasm of ‘immigrants’ coming into the conversation. Then training of our own, WHO WANT TO PURSUE THESE CAREERS, will take time and those careers MUST be undertaken only by people who genuinely want to do them and they MUST have a passion to do good. It’s no use saying governments need to train more doctors or nurses - they MUST WANT to be doctors and nurses and a proper and high degree of training is essential.

Yes, provided some of the Doctors go to country areas. While studying, nurses used to do some training actually nursing in wards, emergency or outpatients under supervision. Now they do only studying apart from a few weeks placement (work experience

 

[Gaena]

People are quick to blame to current government for past issues with health care and Medicare.

Do you not remember that Gough Whitlam brought in the idea of a national health service?

Then in 1981, the Fraser government completely abolished Medibank. That worked well, didn't it?

Thankfully, the Hawke government reinstated Medibank, under the guise of Medicare, in early 1984.

The LNP has the covert notion of making Australia's health system a model on the US system, which discriminates against lower socio-economic sections of the population.

Let the rich get richer, while the poor can die in the streets.

Capitalist pigs!

Finally some one else who remembers what previous LNP governments have done to decimate Medicare health services. All the current problems are being laid at the feet of the Labor Government, who inherited these problems when taking office after more than 12 years of an LNP government, do Labor have a magic wand? can they solve all inherited problems straight away, on the day they take office??
Obviously not , however because they were expected to perform miracles to torn back the on coming tides of disasters waiting for them, such as financial issues leading to budget issues then leading to cost of living issues not to mention not enough doctors and nurses in our hospitals all neatly packaged together to give the average person on the street an excuse to vote them out and put the LNP back into government again!! So Dutton with his Nuclear power dreams that Australia has no way of paying for because that and the Aukus deal will bankrupt us there will be no more medicare it will be gutted just like every other social service, forget the age pension it will be cut to the point our elderly cannot feed themselves because the LNP do not care about the average person they only want to serve big business who put ever expanding donations into their coffers. A vote for the LNP is a vote for capitalism that this country cannot afford Good grief give me strength.