The Labor Party is simply “throwing money” at Australia’s universal healthcare program Medicare with its near $1 billion (US$700 million) election funding pledge, which one Howard-era advisor says will do little to reform the system despite the hefty price tag.
In an announcement on May 14, the centre-left Labor Party followed up its pledge to “strengthen Medicare” early in the election campaign with a $750 million and $220 million funding proposal to address supposed “rolling cuts and attacks” by the Morrison government.
The $750 million will be spent over a three-year period and aims to deliver improved patient access to GPs, increase affordability, “better management” of complex conditions, and to decrease pressure on hospitals.
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