Need for health care reform in Australia

Australia spends about A$94.0 billion ($60.5 billion) on health services, or about A$4,500 for every person. However, with an aging  population, and rising rates of diabetes and other chronic diseases,  this figure is only going to rise, says the national newspaper, The  Australian.

Nevertheless, even with the "astronomical" spending, the state is not  giving everyone the treatment they need, when they need it. Hence the  need for reform, to make sure more people get the care they need, and to  end the eternal blame game between jurisdictions, it notes.

The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission's report, if  implemented, will go a long way to fixing many of the problems,  although it could prove bureaucratic and risky.