Summary
Date: 30 March 2022
The Federal Budget 2022-23 is targeted towards addressing the increasing cost of living for many Australians post-COVID-19 and preparing the political landscape for the upcoming Federal Election. A Budget Summary has been prepared.
Many of the key health announcements in the 2022-23 Budget are aimed at maintaining funding through current health structures, including Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and supporting preventive care post COVID-19.
While the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is pleased with the announcement of funding supporting multidisciplinary mental health care, the 10-Year Stronger Rural Health Strategy, and endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics in general practice, the budget ultimately fails to provide meaningful investment for general practice. The continued failure to appropriately fund the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan and priority patient groups is particularly disappointing.
Unfortunately, this budget does not address many of the critical challenges specialist general practitioners (GPs) and other primary healthcare workers are facing, including rising rates of chronic disease, a mental health crisis and the growing costs associated with providing critical primary healthcare services.