The AIHW Health Expenditure Australia 2020-21 Report confirms the significant investment our Government is making into our hospitals.
The data shows that total health expenditure in Tasmania – including Federal and Tasmanian Government funding, and expenditure by consumers and health insurers – was $4.99 billion in 2020‑21, up by 6.3 per cent in real terms on the previous year.
Expenditure on public hospitals was the largest component of health spending at $1.73 billion - with 55 per cent coming from the Tasmanian Government.
This once again confirms we are doing everything we can to strengthen our health system and ensure Tasmanians receive the right care at the right place at the right time.
It also backs up our investment in the 2022-23 State Budget, that includes record health funding of $11.2 billion over four years –an average health spend of $7.25 million per day, one third of the Budget’s total operating expenditure.
We are already seeing the results of our investment, particularly in elective surgery where the wait list has decreased by 18.3 per cent in the 12 months to September 2022, thanks to our $196.4 million Statewide Four-Year Elective Surgery Plan.
Importantly, we are also developing innovative service to relieve the pressure on our hospitals, as we know that when people are treated in the community when appropriate, they recover sooner.
That’s why we have introduced the Hospital in the Home and Mental Health Hospital in the Home programs, along with making our Community Rapid Response Service a permanent statewide service, providing quality care in the community for people with a range of conditions including chronic and complex illnesses, reducing hospitalisation.
We are also incentivising GPs and pharmacies to provide after-hours services to local communities, with $9 million invested through our GP After-Hours support initiative to help increase access.
We know there is more to do, and we will continue our strong investment into our health system to ensure all Tasmanians, no matter where they live, can receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.