Healthcare: Reform or ration (2013)

As part of a suite of recommendations aimed at ensuring the long term sustainability of Australia's universal healthcare system, the report recommends that three per cent of superannuation be quarantined to meet healthcare costs, either by increasing the current super rate or using a portion already paid.

"Australia's healthcare system won't be sustainable in its current form if the current rate of increasing utilisation, and therefore the cost to taxpayers, continues, so meaningful reform is the only option," CEDA, Chief Executive, Professor the Hon Stephen Martin said on releasing the report.

The report provides recommendations on:

• The major reforms needed to the way healthcare costs are funded and services delivered;
• How to improve Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme pricing; and
• How Australia can enhancing its comparative advantage in biotechnology.

In this policy perspective a range of experts explore Australia's biotechnology industry, the skills required to enable healthcare innovation and the fiscal challenges Australia's healthcare system faces.

Download report - Healthcare: Reform or ration (pdf)

Read media release - Use super to cover healthcare costs or risk longer waiting times

Report chapters and authors

Sustaining universal healthcare in Australia: Introducing dynamic efficiency

Professor Just Stoelwinder, Professor and Chair of Health Services Management, Monash University

Healthcare reform in an ageing Australia

Dr Vince FitzGerald, Senior Research Fellow, CEDA and Principal, ACIL Allen Consulting

The price is wrong: Pharmaceutical expenditure in Australia over the last decade and options for reform

Professor Philip Clarke, Professor of Health Economics, Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne

Ensuring Australia's comparative advantage in biotechnology

Dr Anna Lavelle, Chief Executive Officer, AusBiotech

Traversing the valley of death

Dr Julian Clark
Head of Business Development, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

Why STEM skills are important for innovation

Professor Ian Chubb AC, Australia's Chief Scientist