The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) wishes to
clarify comments attributed to it in the recent publication from
state and territory health ministers titled Caring for our
Health?. The AIHW was not involved in the production or
publication of this report.
Contrary to information contained in the report, the AIHW has
not made any recommendations in regard to the appropriate level of
funding of public hospital services. The AIHW's latest report on
health expenditure is Health expenditure Australia
2004-05, which was issued in September 2006. That report found
that the average rate of health inflation between 1994-95 and
2004-05 was 0.4% per year higher than the general level of
inflation. It is incorrect to interpret this statement as a
recommendation on funding levels.
The AIHW produces over 130 reports a year on Australia's health
and welfare. Every two years the AIHW publishes Australia's health,
a comprehensive statistical-based report on Australia's health.
These reports are all available to the public and help inform
decisions by policy makers.
For immediate use.
25 June 2007
Further information: John Goss, AIHW, tel. 02
6244 1151 or 0402-346379.
For media copies of "Health Expenditure Australia
2004-05": Ron Forrester, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1025.