In Focus

First-rate services

Australia offers high-quality health care for residents and tourists

  • By Henry Jacodijk | Gulf News Report
  • Published: 00:00 September 28, 2010
  • In Focus

  • Image Credit: Supplied

As a welfare state, Australia offers universal health care to residents,while its private hospitals and practitioners offer a range of treatments for prospective medical tourists.

Australia's health care sector has a number of specialisations that could appeal to GCC nationals and residents.

Australian Medical Association (AMA) Federal Vice-President, Dr Steve Hambleton, told Gulf News that medical tourism is a growth sector in Australia, and demand is increasing steadily.

"It is certainly growing. Australia has a high standard of health care combined with a highly desirable tourism destination with a multicultural population mix. All nationalities, races and religions would be accepted and receive the same high-quality health care.

One compelling reason to choose Australia is its first-rate medical services, said Dr Hambleton. "All specialities are available in Australia — from dentistry to plastic surgery to orthopaedics." The AMA website has a list of institutions and bodies that are deemed Australian Recognised Medical Specialtiesby the Ministry of Health and Ageing.(For details visit www.amc.org.au/)

As a medical tourism destination, Australia is a low-risk option, said Dr Hambleton. "Australia is safe, politically stable, has high-quality training and regulation systems."

Visa requirements

For people seeking medical attention, there are two visas. The first is a short-stay medical visa, which allows applicants to stay in Australiafor up to three months. If you apply for thisin the UAE, there is no charge.

According to the Department of Immigration, this visa is for people who are planning to visit Australia for medical treatment or consultation (except surrogate motherhood), those who intend to donate an organ or accompanya person seeking treatment. The second category is the long-stay medical treatment visa, which has similar conditions and allows people seeking treatment to visit for between three and 12 months.

In the UAE, visas can be processed through VFS Global in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. (For details visit www.vfs-au-gcc.com/)

Insurance coverage

According to Medicare, the state medical aid body, the Australian government has signed reciprocal health care agreements (RHCAs)with the governments of the UK, Sweden,the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Malta and Italy, which entitle citizens to limited subsidised health services for ‘medically necessary treatment' while visiting Australia.

Residents of the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands are covered forthe duration of their visit, and are eligible to apply for Medicare — Australia's medical aid subsidy programme.

Australia has also signed agreements withthe Republic of Ireland and New Zealand that entitle citizens of these countries to limited subsidised health services for ‘medically necessary treatment' while visiting Australia.

According to Medicare, "Reciprocalhealth care agreements cover treatmentthat is medically necessary. Medicallynecessary treatment means any ill-health or injury that occurs while you are in Australia and requires treatment before you return home."

Residents of these countries are entitledto "free treatment as a public inpatientor outpatient in a public hospital, subsidised medicines under the PharmaceuticalBenefits Scheme."

However, citizens from these countries must note that treatment arranged prior to a person's visit to Australia will not becovered by Medicare.

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