– Australia performs well in terms of overall population health status. At 82.2 years, life expectancy is the sixth highest in the OECD, and the country’s record on breast and colorectal cancer survival is among the best. Australia has one of the lowest rates of tobacco consumption (12.8% of the population aged 15 and over), but it is the fifth most obese country in the OECD (28.3% of the population aged 15 and over).
– Australia achieves good outcomes relatively efficiently. Health expenditure is 8.8% of GDP, about the same as the OECD average of 8.9%.
– There are areas where Australia can improve. It has high rates of hospital admission for chronic conditions that can be managed in primary care.
– Australian consumption of antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs and antibiotics are among the highest in the OECD.
– Australians spend more on out-of-pocket health care costs than the OECD average.
– Australia’s high rates of hospital admission for chronic conditions point to the need to strengthen primary health care
– Australian consumption of antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs is among the highest in the OECD
– Australians are also large consumers of antibiotics
– Out-of-pocket health care costs comprise a considerable portion of health spending in Australia, compared with other OECD countries