The Wire

Australians will no longer be able to access free health care as of July 2015. The Federal Budget’s recent changes to the health care sector mean that Australians will be charged a $7 fee for visits to the doctor. There will also be a $5 increase to prescription medication on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and an 80c increase for those who have a concession card. People will also pay extra for visits to radiologists and pathologists. However, the Federal Government will direct $5 of the $7 GP co-payment fee into a $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund. This means that more research will be done into illnesses like cancer.