Health investment in areas like workforce, digital and infrastructure is critical to delivering better health outcomes and is also part of the solution to manage the economic recovery, both for productivity and job creation.
PwC Australia recommends investment in these focus areas through the federal health budget for 2021.
- Virtual health- Australia needs systemic change and sustainable funding models to continue along the trajectory for virtual care and telehealth.
- Aged care – To be supported through significant improvements to aged care workforce capacity and skills, and the right policy settings to encourage business investment in the sector.
- Medical research and supply chains -With focus increasing on vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, localisation is required to allow for a more resilient supply chain.
- Preventive health – The country needs to increase our focus on vulnerable communities (e.g. First Nations peoples), support our disability sector and invest in social determinants of health around issues such as social housing, early childhood education and obesity.
For more recommendations and details into these click here to read the original article published in PwC Australia.
Image credits: Biospectrum Asia
