Australia and Canada have many similarities in health policy, starting with some of the main features of each country’s Medicare system. The workings of private health insurance provide a striking area of contrast. Australia has a duplicate system, in which private health insurance covers most of the services provided by public hospitals, constructing a parallel private system. Canada has kept the public and private separate. This talk explores the different ways private funding works in each system and the consequences for equity, quality and access.

James Gillespie

Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Deputy Director, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney