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Issue of Efficiency of Australian Health Care System

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THE AUSTRALIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: THE POTENTIAL FOR EFFICIENCY GAINS
A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background paper prepared for the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission

June 2009

This paper was prepared at the Commission’s request by staff of the secretariat to the Commission.

The lead author was Emily Hurley. Ian McRae Ian Bigg Liz Stackhouse Anne-Marie Boxall and Peter Broadhead provided some input and commented on drafts.

This is a paper prepared as background for the NHHRC. The views and findings expressed in it should not be taken to be the views of the NHHRC or of the Australian Government.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ....................................................................................................4 International overview of efficiency .............................................................4 Health status – due to more than the health care system ............................7 An Australian focus ......................................................................................8 Summary ......................................................................................................8 A framework for efficiency............................................................................9 Operational Efficiency .................................................................................10 Health sub-sectors .....................................................................................11 Hospitals.................................................................................................11 Primary health care.................................................................................13 Allied health care ....................................................................................15 Aged care services

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