The Federal Government will pour $131.4 billion into Australia’s public hospitals to future-proof the health system against crises like COVID-19.
Announcing the huge cash injection in a national address this afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the money will be used to improve health outcomes for all Australians.
The government will start proceedings with an additional $34.4 billion in funding to hospitals from July 1 this year.
The payment will be in addition to more than $8 billion already pledged towards hospitals during the government’s COVID-19 response.
“There is also as part of our agreement, a funding guarantee to all states and territories to ensure no jurisdiction is left worse off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and guarantees the Commonwealth’s funding contribution for public hospitals over the next five years,” Mr Morrison said.
“Now, this agreement, importantly, includes funding to provide life-saving immunotherapies to Australians suffering with conditions, in particular cancer, that attack cells.”
The prime minister said such treatments can cost $500,000 per patient.
“That’s why it’s so essential that we continue to work together to strengthen our economy to support such critical agreements like the one we’ve been able to come to today,” Mr Morrison said.
Source: 9News
