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In 2021, the overall performance of the Australian health care system was ranked third of eleven high income countries by the Commonwealth Fund (New York), but only eighth for providing affordable, timely access to care. As in other countries, the Australian health care system has been challenged by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), leading to the establishment of a major taskforce for improving access to primary health care. 

The publicly funded universal health care scheme introduced in 1984, Medicare, is underpinned by principles of simple, fair, and affordable health care. But Medicare is a complex system comprising multiple financial schemes at the federal and state levels and subsidies to the private sector.

This MJA narrative review shares more.

Details

• Explain key components of the perspective.
• List main findings.
• Recognise the challenges for Medicare and universal health care in Australia since 2000

Author: Mary Rose Angeles, Paul Crosland and Martin Hensher

Article Type: Narrative review