Primary health care – including public health

In 2023–24, $89.1 billion was spent on primary health care. Of this, the Australian Government spent $37.9 billion (42.6%), non-government entities $37.6 billion (42.1%), and state and territory governments $13.6 billion (15.3%) (Figure 27). 

This represented a $0.4 billion decrease (0.5%) in spending from 2022–23 in real terms. This decline in 2023–24 was mainly due to decreased spending by the Australian Government of $1.0 billion (2.5%) and state and territory governments of $0.6 billion (4.4%) (Table 32).

Figure 27: Primary health care expenditure, by source of funds, constant prices (a), 2013–14 to 2023–24

The line graph shows spending on primary health care by the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and the non-government sector over the decade from 2013–14 to 2023–24. Australian Government spending was the highest among all sources, increasing in most years, reaching $46.1 billion in 2021–22, and then decreasing to $37.9 billion in 2023–24. State and territory government spending also increased over the decade, rising from $10.1 billion in 2013–14 to $13.6 billion in 2023–24. Non-government spending increased annually until it reached $32.6 billion in 2018–19, then declined to $31.2 billion in 2019–20 before rebounding to $37.6 billion in 2023–24.

The line graph shows spending on primary health care by the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and the non-government sector over the decade from 2013–14 to 2023–24. Australian Government spending was the highest among all sources, increasing in most years, reaching $46.1 billion in 2021–22, and then decreasing to $37.9 billion in 2023–24. State and territory government spending also increased over the decade, rising from $10.1 billion in 2013–14 to $13.6 billion in 2023–24. Non-government spending increased annually until it reached $32.6 billion in 2018–19, then declined to $31.2 billion in 2019–20 before rebounding to $37.6 billion in 2023–24.
  1. Constant price health spending is in 2023–24 prices.

Note: State and territory governments do not spend on unreferred medical services, benefit-paid pharmaceuticals and all other medications.

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Table 32).

The decrease in spending in real terms on primary health care in 2023–24 was attributable to decreases in: public health (decreased by $2.3 billion) and unreferred medical services (by $0.3 billion) (Tables A5 and A6).

Between 2013–14 and 2023–24, real growth averaged 2.7% each year. The Australian Government spending on primary health care increased the most over the decade, by $8.1 billion, representing an average yearly real growth of 2.4%. 

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