This report outlines the results of a survey of 561 rural, regional and remote doctors. Respondents identified the top five most pressing policy priorities as rural hospitals; general practice; workforce; support for reskilling, upskilling and maintaining skills; and access to non-GP specialist services.

Australia is facing alarming levels of ramping. This report card presents statistics for incidents requiring an ambulance for each state and territory. It shows ambulance ramping in many states is still double what it was five years ago, with logjammed hospitals leaving patients waiting too long to be admitted, with devastating results.

The paper identifies five pillars for health reform with associated policy costings and timeframes. It calls for immediate action to modernise Medicare and to lift public hospitals out of logjam. It also seeks commitments to address growing threats to private health sector sustainability and calls for the implementation of a sugar tax.

This report presents performance results for public hospital capacity, and emergency department and planned surgery waiting times; as well as hospital expenditure. It notes increasing wait times for essential surgeries and longer waits for patients in emergency departments; highlighting the need for increased investment by both state and federal governments.

The report card is designed to help consumers choose the right private health cover and determine value for money. The report highlights major issues in the sector including the complexity of choosing the right health fund and level of cover. It finds that the private health insurance system is in trouble and needs real reform.