AIHW Report Highlights Rising Chronic Disease and Growing Pressure on Primary Care
09 Jul 2026
The report found hospitals received $113.8 billion in funding during 2023–24, accounting for 42% of total healthcare spending. In comparison, primary healthcare, including public health services, received $89.1 billion, around one-third of the $270.5 billion spent on healthcare.
The AIHW also reported that 36% of Australia's disease burden could be prevented or reduced by addressing risk and environmental factors. Overweight and obesity have now become the country's leading health risk factor, replacing tobacco.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said chronic disease is becoming increasingly common, with more than 60% of Australians living with at least one chronic condition and nearly 40% living with two or more. He said general practice plays a vital role in managing multiple health conditions through coordinated, patient-centred care.
Dr Wright also raised concerns about the widening funding gap between hospitals and primary care, saying greater investment in general practice is needed to help keep people healthy and reduce pressure on hospitals.
The report found dementia remains Australia's leading underlying cause of death, while the use of Medicare-subsidised mental health services increased by almost 9%. At the same time, Australia continues to see positive health outcomes, including higher cancer survival rates, fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease and ongoing declines in smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The AIHW also reported a 6.3% reduction in the disease burden among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between 2011 and 2022, although their overall disease burden remains 2.1 times higher than that of non-Indigenous Australians.
The report highlighted ongoing gaps in national primary care data and outlined efforts to improve the collection of consistent information to better understand access, quality and outcomes across general practice.
AIHW Report Highlights Rising Chronic Disease and Growing Pressure on Primary Care
Source: newsGP, reporting on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Australia's Health 2026 report