Regular reporting of national health expenditure is vital to understanding the health system and its relationship to the economy as whole. In 2017–18:
- Total health spending was $185.4 billion, equating to $7,485 per person
- Health spending increased by 1.2%, which was lower than the decade average of 3.9%.
- The majority of health spending went on hospitals (40%) and primary health care (34%).
- Health spending accounted for 10% of overall economic activity.