Tough decisions needed to save SA budget, former minister warns
A former health minister has warned tough decisions are needed to save South Australia’s budget from being devoured by health care.
John Hill was South Australian health minister for six years and constantly assured the public hospital queues were getting shorter.
He is set to soon leave politics, but has warned that within 20 years, health care could devour the entire state budget.
Mr Hill predicts future health needs may be rationed, with those over 90 years of age even missing out on surgery altogether.
“You make people wait longer… some people don’t get there because the queue is so long,” Mr Hill said.
Another option is user pays, which assists the wealthy, but battlers may be forced to borrow money from the government or reverse mortgage their homes to pay for treatment.
“One way is a greater contribution from older citizens who have resources,” he said.
“It’s better to do the tough things now and make the tough decisions.”
Some experts at a cancer conference in Adelaide today agreed.
“We are facing a major health crisis, that is our aging population,” Associate Professor Sandro Porceddu said.
“The economic implications of this are quite valid.”
Mr Hill does not like any of these options, and the Opposition said the public wont either.
“He’s now identifying the fact there are hard decisions but many have been created by himself,” Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said.
South Australian premier Jay Weatherill did not play the issue down either.
“There’s no doubt about that, there is a very substantial growth that we have to keep funding,” he said.
