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Plan aims to provide free medical and dental care amid rising healthcare costs.
The Australian Greens has revealed a bold plan on providing 1,000 new health clinics across the nation, offering free medical and dental care for free at a cost of $54 billion. Party leader Adam Bandt will step off the highway in Perth to outline the plan and explain what he says is an urgent necessity - people have to be able to get quality access to healthcare at affordable prices.
As proposals promises at least six clinics in every electorate. That will see patients consult with GPs, dentists, registered nurses, and psychologists at no cost to the patient. Funding for the initiative is expected from a proposed "Robin Hood" tax reform that proposes a 40% tax on excessive corporate profits.
The conversations about integrating dental care into Medicare, Bandt said that the health system was something every Australian should have access to. He said: "In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should be able to get the healthcare they need, but more and more people are putting off health appointments because they can't afford it.
The proposal further calls for tripling the bulk billing incentive on Medicare card holders, and increases Medicare rebates by 20 percent, as well as raising pay for trainee GPs. The Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated the overall cost to implement these programs over the next decade.
The Royal Australian College of GPs welcomed the proposal, noting that more effort should go into patient support because out-of-pocket costs are on the rise. As the next election draws near, the Greens are positioning themselves to push hard for these substantial reforms, especially in electorates where they are looking to expand their numbers.
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