The state government has dismissed a report claiming it's diverted $2 billion of GST money intended for health into other areas of the budget.
In his latest report Health Funding in Tasmania, Health policy analyst Martyn Goddard claims Tasmania's public hospitals received $800 million less in funding over five years than was needed to provide a national-standard level of service.
"This takes into account the Commonwealth Grants Commission's assessments of this state's funding needs, compared with the rest of the country," Mr Goddard said.
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"The Commission calculates that our health system needs 22 per cent more state government money than the national average, and allocates to Tasmania a greater share of GST revenue to pay for it."
However, a government spokesperson said health spending as a percentage of the budget at 32 per cent was among the highest proportion of the overall budget, in the nation.
"The Tasmanian Government, like all state and territory governments, must achieve the right balance in allocating the funds it has available to a number of high priority areas including health, infrastructure, education and law and order," they said.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
