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The paper supports the Federal Government’s current reform agenda while also encouraging a more ambitious conversation about the long-term redesign needed to keep Australia’s health system sustainable, transparent and centred on patients. 

The Future of Australia’s Private Hospitals outlines a critical roadmap to improve patient access to care, enhance the value of private health insurance and strengthen the national health system. 
The landmark report details five priority reform areas to create a more integrated, fair, transparent, innovative and skilled health care future. 

Key recommendations of The Future of Australia’s Private Hospitals plan: 

1. Make private health insurance work better for patients. Modernise private health insurance products to improve transparency, support contemporary models of care and ensure patients get value for money. 
2. Train more clinicians where care is delivered. Expand funded training pathways across public and private hospitals and remove barriers to workforce entry. 
3. Fund innovation and the workforce, not just activity. Introduce targeted funding streams to support workforce development, productivity, clinical innovation and digital transformation. 
4. Unlock private hospital capacity for public patients. Create multi-year public–private partnerships that make better use of private hospital capacity to support public patient demand. 
5. Support fair bargaining in the private health system. Establish fair bargaining frameworks for insurer-hospital funding contracts to ensure funding supports patient care. 

 
When packaged together, these reforms would create a more integrated public-private health system that is: 

• More integrated: Ensuring seamless collaboration between public and private providers 
• Fair and transparent: Achieving clarity in health cover and funding 
• Innovative: Promoting new treatments, technologies and care models 
• Skilled: Developing a robust and capable workforce 
• Patient-focused: Placing patient outcomes at the centre 

Group CEO and Managing Director of Ramsay Health Care, Natalie Davis, said Ramsay’s position is constructive, solutions-focused and recognises the opportunity for innovation in private health care.  

“The Deloitte Access Economics paper sets out Ramsay’s practical vision for strengthening Australia’s health system, drawing on our experience as Australia’s largest private hospital operator and our commitment to improving access, choice, transparency and sustainability for patients," Ms Davis said. 
 
“Australia’s health system is world-leading, and private health care plays a significant role - supporting patient choice, timely access, regional services, workforce development and clinical innovation.” 
 
“Reforms to support contemporary models of care and digital innovation will connect health care services for Australians, reduce the administrative burden on clinicians and deliver cost efficiencies, strengthening the sustainability of our healthcare system for the future.” 
 
"We believe this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a stronger, more integrated and more patient-centred health system." 
 
The full report is available here: