QUESTIONS SURROUND COST OF STATE’S ELECTIVE SURGERY PROCEDURES

Could We do More With Same Budget?

The Tasmanian Greens today raised concerns over the State’s elective surgery procedure costs exceeding the national average cost for each procedure, saying that could be contributing to the waiting lists blow-out.

Greens Health spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said that the recent report into elective surgery performance of the state’s public hospitals by Martyn Goddard had highlighted the discrepancy between the state and national costs, and suggested that by lowering those costs, the state could treat more people for the same amount of money.

“Mr Goddard’s recent report highlights that the state’s average elective surgery procedure costs about $11, 500 in contrast to the national average of $10, 000 per procedure,” Mr O’Halloran said. [1]

“This raises two serious questions for consideration. The first being why is there this discrepancy, and are there greater efficiencies possible within our public hospital system which could reduce the cost of elective surgery procedures?”

“And if there are greater efficiencies available, then doesn’t that mean there is the potential for more elective procedures to occur, for the same amount of money from the State Budget?”

“We are told that there is no more money to throw at elective surgery to bring down the waiting lists, and the Greens have always said that this would only be a band-aid solution at best, as it fails to address long-term structural reform needs, such as identifying areas where greater efficiencies can occur.”

“What the Goddard report suggests is that we can do what we do more efficiently and more cost-effectively, meaning we could treat more people with the same amount of money, or even with less.”

“The Greens call for an examination of whether we can undertake these procedures more efficiently by reducing possible waste, duplication or supply purchasing practices, should not be misinterpreted as any form of suggestion that cost-cutting that puts at risk the patient or our hard-working medical staff is acceptable.”

[1] Reference: “Elective Surgery Performance in Tasmanian Public Hospitals,” Martyn Goddard, March 2013.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Health spokesperson