Public health services in South Australia are provided by the Department of Health, which is responsible for promoting the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.
Medical and paramedical services are provided through Government and non-Government hospitals and health care units, and by private medical and other allied health care practitioners. The Department has general responsibililty for the public health of the entire State.
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Medicare
Medicare is Australia's national medical insurance scheme. It entitles all permanent resident Australians to free treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital and free or subsidised treatment by a doctor (including treatment by specialists), participating optometrists, or dentists for specified services.
Contributions to the health care system are made by each individual through taxes and the Medicare levy, collected through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Medicare's out-of-hospital services include:
- doctor's and specialist's consultation and treatment fees
- x-rays
- pathology tests
- other medical tests
- examinations and procedures
If you need to go to hospital you can choose to be a public (Medicare) patient or a private patient in a public or private hospital.
For public (Medicare) patients in public hospitals there is no cost.
For private patients in a public or private hospital, Medicare will pay 75% of the Scheduled Fee for all medical services provided by a doctor. However, it will not cover the cost of hospitalisation.
The Federal Government, through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, also subsidises the cost of some prescription medicines.
People holding temporary residence visas are generally not entitled to Medicare.
The Australian Government has signed Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with some countries. The Medicare website has more information about participating countries and eligibilty.
As medical costs are high, you are strongly encouraged to obtain private health insurance.
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Private health insurance
Many Australians have private health insurance, which covers some or all of the cost of treatment as a private patient in a public or private hospital. Depending on the premiums paid, private health insurance may also extend to services that Medicare does not cover, such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy services.
Private health insurance does not guarantee you a 100% rebate of fees associated with hospitals, doctors and other medical expenses. The Federal Government's Department of Health and Ageing website has more general information about private health insurance.
Private health insurance is available from health insurance companies. The following companies offer private health insurance for temporary residents:
It is useful to compare the costs of the various health funds. The following websites provide this service:
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Hospitals
South Australia's hospital services are made available through a network of Government, private, community, religious and other foundations. The major government health units are:
All of these hospitals are located in metropolitan Adelaide. There are also 63 public hospitals in regional SA and nine private hospitals.
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Child and youth health
The Child, Youth and Women's Health Service offers community-based child health services in South Australia, and plays a major role in the provision of primary health care to families across the State.
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Mental health services
Mental health services are provided in South Australia through the public hospital system and community health centres. They are made up of emergency and crisis services, treatment services for people with acute illness, rehabilitation and recovery services, and services for people with severe and persistent needs.
As well as in-patient services, support is provided to people in the community through community teams, mental health focussed non-Government organisations, and the broader network of community support, information and advocacy services.
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Women's health services
These services have been established in 15 towns and cities in country South Australia to provide a comprehensive primary health care service for women.
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Australian Red Cross Blood Service
The Red Cross collects and processes blood donations at its centres in Adelaide and Noarlunga and through a mobile unit which visits metropolitan, country and regional centres.
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Ambulance services
These are provided across the State by the South Australia Ambulance Service, including an air ambulance service.
An emergency evacuation service for people in outback areas is provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, which also provides regular clinics from its Port Augusta base to some of the State's remote communities.
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Australian Health Management
