Benefits of prevention funding:

• [P] Prevention programs offer significant long-term cost savings for Australia’s healthcare system.
• [E] This occurs when investment in preventive measures reduces expensive treatment costs later.
• [Ev] Programs like vaccination and health screening prevent costly diseases requiring ongoing treatment.
• [L] Therefore, prevention funding provides better value for healthcare investment.

However, balancing funding presents challenges:

• [P] Conversely, prevention benefits may take years to demonstrate measurable cost savings and health improvements.
• [E] This creates pressure for immediate treatment funding when patients need urgent medical care.
• [Ev] Politicians and public favour visible treatment services over long-term prevention strategies.
• [L] Consequently, healthcare budgets often prioritise treatment over prevention despite better long-term outcomes.

• Medical research and development of new treatments require significant ongoing investment contributing to increased healthcare expenditure globally.
• Advanced medical technologies and equipment are expensive to purchase, maintain and upgrade regularly to keep pace with innovations.
• Healthcare workforce costs increase due to demand for specialised training and competitive salaries to retain skilled professionals.
• Ageing population demographics create higher demand for complex medical services requiring more resources and longer treatment periods.
• Rising costs of pharmaceutical drugs and medical supplies impact overall healthcare system budgets and patient treatment expenses.