There have been some excellent suggestions on this forum on how to reduce costs to the public health care system, while not depriving people who can be helped. A more rational attitude to death and dying is probably the most important.

Other things that haven't been mentioned would include breaking the current cosy arrangements. Somehow union busting never includes the doctors. There are probably numerous procedures that could be done by paramedics or by GPs on salary who have been trained as "mini-specialists" to do common procedures. In the US nurse practitioners do colonoscopies, and their success rates are just as good as those of specialist doctors.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme could stop paying for brand name drugs when a generic in that class becomes available, unless the doctor can come up with a good reason why it is not appropriate or the patient is willing to pay the difference.

The big pharmaceutical companies do lots of research to come up with "me too" drugs to get around each others' patents. Why not have a government research institute and nationalised pharmaceutical company to do the same thing on our behalf?

Give one level of government responsibility for both hospitals and nursing homes, so that cost shifting doesn't end up blocking beds in hospitals.

Divergence,

Wow someone with a solution! I heartilly agree and wish and hope our feds will see the light too.
I don't think it will happen though, the states have already lost so much influence as to become less and less relevant and their all disfunctional except when it comes to hanging in there for power and other treats.
fluff4

Recently I had a conversation with a person who had the misfortune of having to go to an american hospital emergency department, it cost him $3,000.

He also told me of a mate who had ruptured his appendix whilst in the states, his hospitalisation included a few days in intensive care. this cost $1,000,000.

Medicare is a luxury we cannot afford to loose.

Today was confirmed as labors' opportunity to make a difference. The leadership and future cabinet will be best ever opportunity to make a difference in health care.
I trust insider opposition will remain as it has been seen but not heard much of. In view of this the sadsayers may join us in the hope for the continuation of a successful community service I hope for everyone, not least the aborigines.
Good luck Kev!
fluff

I certainly hope Labor doesn't stuff this one.

In 1992 the number of university places for medical students was drastically reduced and also running concurrently has been the decrease in public hospital bed numbers.

I understand that whilst today the number of medical student places has increased, the majority of these places are going to full fee paying students who come from overseas.

So our doctor shortage is going to get worse.