Aus govt extends hospital funding during Covid times

Canberra : The Australian government has agreed to extend its coronavirus health funding model until the end of 2022. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday chaired his first meeting of the national cabinet where he addressed health funding with state and territory leaders. Following the meeting, he announced that the 50/50 split in hospital funding between the states and territories and the federal government, which was due to end in September, will continue until the end of the year. The measure will cost the federal government an additional 760 million Australian dollars (about 533.9 million US dollars). Amid rising coronavirus cases and an influenza resurgence, state and territory leaders united to demand the agreement be extended. Albanese said the funding would help get people out of emergency departments who do not need to be there. “The decision that we made today to extend the funding is a recognition that there are currently about 3,000 people in hospital as a result of COVID-19. It is still having an impact,” he told reporters.