Under-funding is not the main reason for the crisis in Australia’s public hospitals. A far bigger problem is systemic stupidity.
Before the pandemic, Tasmania’s public hospital system was the nation’s standout basket case. But the malaise, rather like a virulent infectious disease, has spread.
Now every state has the same scandals: critically ill patients waiting for ambulances that are ramped outside a hospital, unconscionably long waiting times for elective surgery, bed block and chaos in emergency departments.
Want to save public hospitals? First, stop being stupid.
Republished from THE POLICY POST May 10, 2024
Martyn Goddard is a public policy analyst specialising in health and state government funding. He was a member of the Australian Council on AIDS and Related Diseases and its clinical subcommittee; as well as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. He also served as a health policy officer at the Australian Consumers' Association (Choice).
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