In the lead up to the Australian Federal election on May 3, the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition have both made big promises for the future of public health.
Both reinforced their policies, wanting to bolster the public health system and reinforce different parts of Medicare.
The Labor Party promised to continue to invest $8.5 billion into Medicare, with GP visits, mental health and medication being the focus.
The Liberal Party had made the same promises, stating their plan to invest $9 billion into Medicare.
Leader of the opposition Peter Dutton has been under heavy scrutiny for past comments on Medicare with past policies aiming to reform GP visits and ‘modernise’ rebates, wanting to charge fees for visits.
“As Prime Minister, I will continue to invest in key health services and a health system we can all rely on,” Mr Dutton has previously said.
Executive Director for the Health Consumers Council (HCC) Clare Mullen says the HCC supports policy changes that mean all Australians can see a GP or primary care specialist “without worrying about whether or not they can afford to pay”.
“That primary care is a critical part of a well-functioning health care system,” Mrs Mullen says.
“We know that there are people in WA who are choosing not to access essential healthcare due to cost concerns, there are others where lack of access due to location are also missing out.”
In the 2023-24 Services Australia Report, 27.1 million people were enrolled within the Medicare system.
Enrolled nurse Micaela Law says accessible healthcare is “integral” to the public and it is important to continue to strengthen it.
“Each person who is able to seek out and receive timely care from their community or a general practitioner is saving someone a potential Emergency department visit.”
“Services such as regular GP appointments to monitor and treat conditions can help nursing services like Silver Chain and other health services in the long run.”
Miss Law says without proper funding for Medicare, this may lead to an increase in Emergency department visits, which leads to an imbalanced nurse-to-patient ratio.
“Mistakes can and do happen, details get missed, patients fall through the cracks, as a frontline worker, we need the help to help you.”
Medicare is a national government organisation used by a wide variety of Australians, including full-time university students who rely on rebated and bulk-billed healthcare to maintain their health.
Murdoch University student, Joshua Reynolds, shares heavily relies on rebated GP appointments and subsidised mental health services.
“I am strongly on board with the idea of bolstering Australian Medicare and increasing support for individuals,” Mr Reynolds says.
“I have had struggles with both my mental health and physical health, where thanks to Medicare, I was able to actually get the help I needed.”
Full-time university student and full-time finance worker Sophie Doilov says she has avoided seeking treatment for past injuries by a doctor which lead to more expensive specialist treatment.
“At a time where the cost of living is so high, both full-time workers and students alike struggle with the affordability of healthcare,” Miss Doilov says.
“As a full-time worker and student, myself, I have missed medication due to the lack of affordability, leading to deteriorating health and poor attendance to work and other obligations.”
Accessible healthcare was a common concern for many heading into the election.
While Labor and the opposition debated investment amounts, it is important that these promises are kept.
Ensuring that the public health system is properly invested in will be beneficial for nurses, students and many different groups in Australia.
