The Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE) hosted leaders from across the health sector last week for a roundtable discussion about the impact of the Federal Budget on health and aged care. 

The event was hosted by Professor Eric Knight, Executive Dean of the Macquarie Business School, and Professor Henry Cutler, Director of MUCHE, and was attended by staff from aged care organisations, digital health leaders, researchers and private health insurance providers. 

Informed by the latest MUCHE Health Report, the most comprehensive annual assessment of the Federal Budget’s impact on health and aged care, the group discussed key points of interest across healthcare, mental healthcare, private health insurance, hospitals, aged care and pharmaceuticals. 

While Professor Cutler stated that the budget was a good start aimed at supporting the workforce and boosting digital healthcare, he also urged the government to do more to ensure all Australians can access the healthcare they need, regardless of where they live or how much they earn. 

MUCHE is a strategic university initiative created to undertake innovative research on health and aged care. It is one of four research centres within the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI), Australia’s largest and most integrated health systems research institute. MUCHE’s vision is to create a world where decision makers and the public are empowered with trusted and impactful research. The centre’s mission is to be Australia’s most influential health economics research centre in academic and public policy debate.