Australia could learn from the US by spending over 15% of their GDP on health care so more people have a chance of getting help when needed.

Australia could also learn from Britain because their government pay for 80% of healthcare

1. Lessons from France – Universal Access with Strong Primary Care

• Patient-Centred Access: France ensures almost universal access to GPs and specialists, supported by public insurance that covers the majority of costs. Australia could expand bulk-billing incentives and rural GP support to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

• Emphasis on Preventive Care: France invests heavily in preventive medicine (vaccinations, screenings, diet/obesity initiatives). Australia could strengthen prevention programs to reduce long-term system costs.

• Choice and Flexibility: Patients in France have wide choice of providers and hospitals. Australia might allow more flexible models of care (eg. multidisciplinary clinics) to reduce wait times.

2. Lessons from Switzerland – Balancing Competition and Solidarity

• Mandatory Health Insurance with Competition: In Switzerland, private insurers must offer a standardised basic package, fostering competition while ensuring universal coverage. Australia could consider regulated competition in private health insurance, making premiums fairer and coverage clearer.

• Risk Equalisation: Swiss insurers share costs for high-risk patients, preventing discrimination. Strengthening Australia’s risk equalisation pools could help reduce inequities in private health insurance.

• Transparency and Accountability: Swiss citizens have clear information about premiums and service quality. Australia could push for more transparent pricing in both hospitals and private health insurance.

3. Lessons from Britain (NHS) – Cost Control and Integrated Care

• Strong Public Funding Model: The NHS, despite its strains, delivers comprehensive care at a lower cost per capita than Australia. Australia could explore targeted efficiency reforms in hospital funding and procurement to reduce costs.

• Integrated Care Networks: Britain is increasingly focused on linking primary care, hospitals, and social services through Integrated Care Systems. Australia could strengthen coordination between GPs, hospitals, aged care, and disability services.

• Equity of Access: The NHS ensures care is free at the point of use. While Australia already has Medicare, addressing gaps (dental, mental health, rural care) would align more closely with the NHS principle of universal equity.

4. Cross-Cutting Lessons

• Preventive Health is Cheaper than Cure (France, Britain).

• Transparency and Fairness in Private Insurance (Switzerland).

• Integrated Care Models Reduce Fragmentation (Britain).

• Sustainable Funding with Patient Choice (France & Switzerland).

👉 In short: France teaches patient-centred universalism, Switzerland shows how regulated competition can deliver fairness, and Britain demonstrates the benefits of integrated, publicly funded care. Australia could blend these insights to expand preventive programs, improve private insurance fairness, and strengthen care integration, while keeping Medicare’s strengths.

Would you like me to focus more on reducing out-of-pocket costs (like France), or on system efficiency and integration (like Britain)?