Investing in our health
This Budget continues the Government's commitment to a more effective health system by providing increased funding for public hospitals, reforms to deliver more choice and better access to services for patients across Australia, as well as investment in health infrastructure.
Better hospitals
The Government is investing $64 billion over five years under the National Healthcare SPP and National Partnerships to rebuild our public hospitals. This is an increase of over $20 billion, compared to the previous Australian Health Care Agreements.
This includes $2.5 billion over five years to drive hospital and health workforce reform with the States and Territories.
Infrastructure investment
In 2008‑09, the Government established the Health and Hospitals Fund to provide for capital investment in health facilities. In this Budget, the Government will make its first investment from this Fund.
The Government is investing $3.2 billion in hospital infrastructure, translational medical research infrastructure and a national cancer statement. These investments will deliver better health outcomes while stimulating the economy.
Maternity Services Reform
The Government is providing $121 million over four years to reform maternity services to increase access for women and their babies to collaborative models of care, such as through greater involvement of midwives. This new spending has been achieved by removing excessive cost pressures in the health system.
Enhancing rural health
A new Rural Health Workforce Strategy will provide $134 million over four years to attract medical practitioners to areas of need.
Workforce
The Government will also provide $60 million over four years to give nurse practitioners appropriate access to the MBS and PBS from November 2010.
This will strengthen and improve the health workforce by providing a role for nurse practitioners outside acute care, and will allow doctors to focus on tasks that require their level of expertise.
Continued investment in Australia's health system