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Health Care in Australia
In Australia, the State and Territory governments are responsible for public hospital services. They also provide services for school health, dental health, maternal and child health, occupational health, disease control activities and a service of health inspections.
Local government (Councils) is responsible for garbage disposal, clean water, and health inspections. Councils also provide home care services and immunisation
programs.
The Australian Federal Government pays for a medical insurance scheme called Medicare. Medicare covers the cost of doctors visits and services, public hospital costs and medicines. This means that all people who live permanently in Australia can get free hospital care in a public hospital. The doctors who work there provide free treatment.
People can also be treated as private patients in public hospitals or to use private hospitals. If they do this they must pay for the services themselves or use a private health insurance.
| Medicare began in 1984 and is paid for out of the taxes that the government collects. Every tax payer also pays an extra, yearly Medicare levy at tax time. |
Medicare pays for part of the costs doctor and specialist visits, X-ray and other imaging and scanning services and and pathology (blood testing) services. Medicare refunds the the Scheduled Fee (standard fees set by the Government) for a visit to the doctor and part, (85 per cent) for other Medicare services. However, many doctors charge more than the standard fee and the patient must pay the difference.
Medicare also pays pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This means that some people are able to get their medicines and drugs, (those prescribed by doctors) for a lower price.
There are private hospitals in Australia where people can choose to get medical services. They must pay for these services themselves. Most Australian must pay for their own dental treatment.
About half of all Australians have private medical insurance. They pay money to the insurance company so that if they need medical or dental treatments in a private hospital, some of the costs will be paid by the insurance company.
See also the kidcyber page about the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
updated May 2007