Australia is both an island and a continent, with nearly eight million kilometers of land area. Conversely, the country has a relatively small population concentrated mainly in the urbanized areas of the country. There is currently a strong push for skilled and sponsored migration to the country to sustain its population and assist in the full recovery of the Australian economy from the ravages of the recession.
The system of healthcare in Australia is not only focused on the physical and mental health of its populace but also the overall social well-being of the individual. The system is a homogeny of both public and private health service providers. The public system of healthcare in Australia is called Medicare and is funded in part by a tax levy of 1.5% for middle income earners and 2.5% for high income earners.
The Commonwealth of Australia determines the national health policies, regulation and funding. The States and Territories govern the system with execution, oversight and regulation of both the public health services as well as private health care providers. The system of healthcare in Australia has pre-determined strategies which include provision of clinical services and programs, improvement of the holistic individual, reduction of risk factors, capacity creation for individual health choices and attunement of services for cultural well-being.
The National Subsidy Scheme is called the Medicare as it subsidizes services and prescription medicines brought from drugstores. The system also provides free treatment in the many public hospitals in the country. Medicare also provides free or subsidized payments to medical practitioners for specialized services. There are many ways to avail of the Medicare benefits. The first way is by reimbursement after full payment. Another way is by requesting advance payment be issued to the medical specialist for a scheduled procedure or check up. Another way is by the doctor deducting the cost of the service from the subsidy provided by Medicare foe their services. Finally, the doctor or the patient can claim directly from Medicare.
Another aspect of the system of healthcare in Australia is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Here, the government provides high subsidies for the prescription medication available in the market. This is available for all Australian residents and tourists from countries which have Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with Australia. The Australian government also provides subsidies for the cost of prescriptions allowing for a further lowering of costs of treatment for Australian citizens.
Another aspect of health care funding is covered by private health insurance. This aspect of the system of healthcare in Australia allows coverage to be availed of in either public or private health institutions. These insurance providers also allows the patient a wider choice as to options for doctors and hospitals for their medical needs. Also, some procedures not covered in the public coverage is included in the private insurance coverage which includes therapies in optical, physiotherapy, podiatry and dental services.
The overall quality of healthcare in Australia is amongst the best in the world. This has made the country a haven for tourists and immigrants and as observed by the Expat Forum, "Since special medical treatments are lower in Australia than in other developed countries, many patients go to Australia for treatment and other medical services." This has made Australia a utopia for many.
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