Public Hospital

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2022-23, there were 700 public hospitals in Australia.  You can find a list on the healthdirect website.

A public hospital surgery waiting list is a system to manage access to public hospital elective surgery. A patient who needs elective surgery is placed on a waiting list.  A waiting list gives priority to those people who are most in need of care. What is elective surgery? Elective surgery is surgery that a doctor...

Public hospitals In Australia, public hospitals are funded by the Australian, state and territory governments and services are free for anyone with a Medicare Card. Public hospitals may be your first choice in an emergency or for an acute health problem. They may have better medical facilities than a private hospital for your condition and...

Who funds public hospitals? The Australian government, state and territory governments share funding of public hospitals in Australia. A small share of funding comes from non-government organisations such as private health insurers. The government currently reimburses the states and territories for about 37% of their overall costs. According to the Australian Institute of Health and...

Yes. Treatment as a public patient in a public hospital is free for Australian citizens and most permanent residents.  If you hold a Medicare Card, you are entitled to free treatment and the cost of your stay in a public hospital is covered by Medicare. You do not have to pay for hospital accommodation, medical...

In Australia, a public hospital provides free health care to Australian citizens, permanent residents and anyone who falls under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.  To receive treatment in a public hospital, you need a Medicare Card. Public hospitals aim to manage illness and the effects of injury. They provide acute, non- and sub-acute care along...

In this Guide, we provide an overview of how public hospitals operate in Australia. Public hospitals are the backbone of the Australian health system. If you have an urgent or acute health issue, you are likely to be treated in a public hospital. If you need surgery that is classified as ‘elective’, it is sometimes...