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Private hospitals in Australia


News from Down Under.  (It has nothing to do with kangaroos but I like the photo.) 

Healthscope, Australia's second-largest private hospital operator, entered receivership in late May due to severe financial stresses. It will continue to operate but with the expectation of a restructuring. 

Australia has a dual healthcare system, public and private, both as to payments and as to the institutions of care.  A public system, 'Medicare,' covers everyone for doctor visits, hospital stays and some medical tests,  It also pays a portion of many prescription medications.

There is much that Medicare doesn't cover, including dental physiotherapy and ambulance services.  There are also distinct public and private hospitals.   

Some Australians take the public.private balance to be itself a value worth preserving.  The president of the Australian Medical Association told a reporter recently that the balance between the two is "what makes our healthcare system unique and is what leads to some of the world-leading outcomes we see in Australia."

But the failure of Health scope may be a milestone. It has strengthened the force in the country that contend that the dual system should move closer to a fully public system, that the private component is chiefly a source of trouble. 

I'm offering no opinions: I do think this development is worthy of note. 

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  1. Paul D. Van PeltJune 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM

    Let us infer that Australia is moving towards assisted suicide? As opposed to increased costs for long-term care for terminally ill persons? Very pragmatic. Does Australia need more healthy, creative younger people? Does this, if right, amount to my notion of contextual reality? sa da te...

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