Media Release dated 14 August 2024
Cost of living pressures having ‘concerning’ impact on Australians’ healthcare decisions, finds new Australian Healthcare Index
The Australian Patients Association and Leading healthtech platform Healthengine deliver the annual Australian healthcare Index nationwide survey to give Australians better bulk billing visibility, price transparency, demonstrating the impact on healthcare of cost-of-living pressures.
14 August 2024 (Sydney, Australia): Cost-of-living pressures continue to have a negative impact on the way Australians address their health needs, with new research revealing concerning patterns of delayed GP and dental visits and people going without medication.
The 6th Australian Healthcare Index (AHI) survey and report, undertaken by Healthengine and the Australian Patients Association, surveyed over nine thousand Australians, revealing:
- 75% of respondents said cost of living increases had impacted their healthcare decisions
- 60% are delaying GP/doctor visits
- 53% are delaying dental treatment
- 32% are postponing a diagnostic test or scan
- 28% are skipping buying needed medicine; and
- 26% are delaying mental health support.
Australian Patients Association CEO David Clarke said poor access to bulk billing, and out-of-pocket costs to see a doctor or GP, were among the top concerns for many Australians:
“Recent editions of the Australian Health Index have helped bring the issue of cost into focus – but the results of our latest survey are the starkest yet. To have people delaying and skipping important appointments and treatments because of costs creates downstream problems with higher risks that people’s health gets even worse. Only 50 percent of survey participants reported that they were fully bulk billed on their most recent visit to the GP. This isn’t enough given the cost pressures people are living with.”
Healthengine CEO Dan Stinton said that tech platforms like theirs help empower everyday Aussies with more choice and price transparency:
“Tech platforms like Healthengine help provide more choice and greater access to cost-effective medical options, but a lot of people still don’t know this service is there. We’re working hard to help people find bulk billing doctors, or get access to a GP after work all at the click of a button.”
For further information about the Australian Healthcare Index report, please visit: https://australianhealthcareindex.com.au/
ENDS
For further information, please contact
Australian patients Association: David Clarke, CEO, E: dclarke@patients.org.au P: 0416 156 923
HealthEngine: press@healthengine.com.au
or alternatively:
We Are Different PR Liam BettinsonE: liam.b@wearedifferentpr.com.au P: 0466 324 665
About The Australian Healthcare Index (AHI):
The Australian Healthcare Index provides a pulse check on healthcare in Australia from patients’ perspectives and experiences. It’s produced by Healthengine and the Australian Patients Association, with Painted Dog Research. A total of 9,391 adults across Australia participated in the supporting survey and provided personal points of view and experiences across the public and private healthcare ecosystem.
About Healthengine:
Healthengine is Australia’s leading primary healthcare marketplace and technology provider, dedicated to improving access to care for all Australians. With a comprehensive network of healthcare providers and intuitive online booking tools, Healthengine empowers patients to take control of their healthcare journey.
Healthengine has facilitated millions of appointments and continues to innovate to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers alike, doing its bit to help Australians find bulk-billing doctors, on-demand telehealth services and deliver price transparency across GP, dental and allied health. With over ten thousand primary practitioners on its platform, Healthengine users can:
- Search for and book a bulk billing doctor, including by suburb
- Search for and book after-hours GP appointments
- Access cheaper solutions where required, with price transparency from certain providers
- Access 24/7 GP telehealth for as little as $46
For more information, visit www.healthengine.com.au
About the Australian Patients Association:
The Australian Patients Association (APA) is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to championing and protecting the rights and interests of patients, improving the patient experience and their health outcomes, and promoting initiatives which improve affordability, accessibility and quality in our healthcare system. The APA’s core patient values drive our mission. For more information, visit https://www.patients.org.au/