Listen to ACFP’s Founder Bronwyn Kelly’s interview with Ian McAuley about the prospects for restoration of universality in Australia’s health care system.
The prospects for universal health care in Australia
Equity of access to Australia’s health care system has been substantially eroded in the 21st century by changes in the way the system is funded and the way expenditures are distributed. There are political barriers to restoring the equity and comprehensiveness of health care for Australians. These could be overcome if we argue for implementation of an integrated set of strategies based on support of a principle of universalism in health care services.
Strategies based on this fundamental principle are in draft in Australia Together. Find them in Issue No. 8 of the plan under map reference numbers:
Soc04.07 - Security of funding for health.
Soc04.07.01 - Security of funding for health – Abolition of subsidies for private health insurance and reinstatement of universal health care in public and private hospitals funded by a single public fund based on a fair Medicare levy.
Soc04.07.02 - Security of funding for health – Development of plans to implement integrated funding for and delivery of all public and private hospital services.
Soc04.09 - Health accessibility – reform of universal health care (Medicare).
Soc04.10 - Health system sustainability and universality – scholarships and bonds for medical students.
Other strategies for securing health and wellbeing
Australia Together also includes several other strategies that when implemented together can help Australians overcome the dead hand of politics to safely restore universalism in their health care system. One key strategy is to first establish a universal basic income - a UBI - for all Australians. If all Australians can be assured of income security we will significantly increase the chances of restoring the security of our health services and an array of other services essential to the wellbeing of all.
Future episodes of the Australia Together Podcast will expand on the theme of establishing universal income and services security in Australia and the safe pathways towards that.
Find out about other key strategies in Australia Together for universal income and services security including:
the strategy for a National Accord on Wealth, Welfare and Wellbeing, and
the strategy for introduction of a universal basic income for all Australians.
Want to know more about Australia Together?
Australia Together is the nation’s first community designed and driven long term, integrated plan for a better future. It’s designed to help Australians make the best future we can imagine in the 2020s a reality by 2050 or sooner.
Browse the latest Issue of Australia Together - Issue No. 8 - here.
Want to become involved in Australia Together?
Become involved in the process of building Australia Together, the nation’s first long term, integrated plan for a better future.
Comment and provide suggestions about Australia Together here and here.
Up next on the Australia Together Podcast:
Introducing a National Accord on Wealth, Welfare and Wellbeing: David and Bronwyn Kelly talk about the principles that could be included in an Accord that should be made between Australians, parliaments and governments to guide decisions on wealth, welfare and wellbeing.
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