Joint Media Release: $1.25 billion boost to health services

The Liberal National Government will improve the health and care of Australian patients with a guaranteed $1.25 billion boost to health services across the country.

Senator for South Australia Anne Ruston said that this will provide more local doctors, nurses and services in towns like Victor Harbor, Mt Barker, Stirling and Kingscote.

“With a stronger economy we can afford to invest our health system,” Senator Ruston said.

“The $1.25 billion Community Health and Hospitals Program will fund projects and services, supporting patient care while reducing pressure on community and hospital services right here in South Australia.”

Under the program, the Government will partner with communities, states and territories, health and hospital services and research institutions to provide additional funding in four key areas:

• Specialist hospital services such as cancer treatment, rural health and hospital infrastructure
• Drug and alcohol treatment
• Preventive, primary and chronic disease management; and
• Mental health

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the new program will complement the Coalition’s record investment in public hospitals.

“Our funding for public hospitals across Australia will more than double under the Coalition from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $28.7 billion in 2024–25,” Minister Hunt said.

“This is record public hospital funding delivering more doctors, more nurses and more services.

“Our new five year National Health Reform Agreement will deliver more than $30 billion in additional public hospital funding from 2020–21 to 2024–25, taking overall funding during this period to $130.2 billion.”

Senator Anne Ruston said that a strong economy enables the Liberal Government to invest in even more doctors, nurses and public hospital services – benefitting patients in SA. 

“This is further supported by the record investment in Medicare, provision of medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to make them affordable for patients, and the breakthrough medical science occurring through the Medical Research Future Fund,” Senator Ruston said.