

An additional $461m for a youth mental health and suicide prevention strategy has been promised, which includes $111.3m for another 30 Headspace services, bringing the total number to 145 by 2021, and $152m to reduce wait times across the network. This includes $81.5m for cutting the cost of one drug from $155,000 a year to $40 for each script and breast cancer will be cut from $55,000 a year to $40 a script.
#Poltical party quiz skin
Under this policy, a range of new drugs for kidney, bladder, liver and skin cancer will be subsidised. Lastly, it will cap private health insurance increases to 2% for two years prior to further reforms, as opposed to the current rates of on average 4-5% a year. This party will restore indexation for Medicare rebates in the first 50 days of a Labor government. This party will set up a permanent policy-making body called the Australian HealthReform Commission, similar to the Productivity Commission, with commissioners appointed for five years working with the Council of Australian Governments. $2.8bn for hospitals is pledged, which includes $1bn for emergency departments and new wards and $1.8bn to restore the federal component back to 50-50% with the states, as opposed to the current Government's ratio of 45-55%. Its policy includes a promise that every drug recommended by experts will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be funded out of general revenue. This party is gearing up for an expected $1bn in future announcements made during the campaign relating to cancer treatment. A $2.3bn Medicare cancer plan has been promised, including $600m for out of pocket costs on diagnostic imaging and up to 6 million free cancer scans funded through Medicare, and $433m to fund 3m free consultations with oncologists and surgeons.
