Australia to invest $34.8m for four-year elective surgery plan

The initiative is set to increase operating theatre capacity and additional staffing.

Australia plans to invest $34.8m (A$52.7m) in a four-year plan to deliver 60,000 elective surgeries and expand operating theatre capacity in public health services.

According to the government, the investment aims to increase operating theatre sessions during evenings and weekends and add more inpatient beds to support the growing emergency surgery demand.

Meanwhile, the additional funding is set to support territory-wide surgery teams to continue work across Australian Capital Territory (ACT) hospitals.

“Staff will soon have access to new state-of-the-art operating theatres at the Critical Services Building,” Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith, said.

“The advanced medical technology included in these theatres will support teams to deliver even better and more efficient care,” Stephen-Smith added.

Moreover, the government plans to deliver an additional 300 cataract surgeries through partnerships with private facilities.

A$1 = $0.66