Spending by source
Total health system spending on the response to COVID–19 was $55.9 billion over the four financial years of the pandemic (2019–20 to 2022–23). This represented 6.1% of total health spending during the same period. In 2021–22, when COVID–19 related spending was at its highest, it made up 10.8% of total health spending.
The total government spending was estimated to be $54.8 billion combining the government spending through the National Partnership on COVID–19 Response (NPCR) and spending by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The Australian Government spent $42.0 billion, which is equivalent to 77% of total government spending on COVID–19, while state and territory governments spent $12.7 billion. An estimated $1.1 billion was spent by individuals on COVID–19 related items such as, rapid antigen tests, masks and respirators, and sanitiser.
Source of funding | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government | 6,535 | 15,021 | 25,550 | 7,662 | 54,768 |
Australian Government NPCR | 2,462 | 4,031 | 6,658 | 1,153 | 14,305 |
Australian Government Dept of Health and Aged care | 2,080 | 7,319 | 12,720 | 5,608 | 27,727 |
State and territory governments NPCR | 1,992 | 3,670 | 6,173 | 901 | 12,736 |
Individuals | 46 | 113 | 719 | 232 | 1,110 |
Total COVID–19 spending | 6,581 | 15,134 | 26,269 | 7,894 | 55,878 |
Total health spending | 203,330 | 222,196 | 243,116 | 252,515 | 921,157 |
COVID–19 spending as a share of total health spending (%) | 3.2 | 6.8 | 10.8 | 3.1 | 6.1 |
Source: National Health Funding Body, Department of Health and Aged Care, IQVIA.