Public Hospital Report Card 2026 Highlights Ongoing Challenges
13 Mar 2026
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen launched the report alongside Tim Nicholls, highlighting the ongoing need for investment and reform.
Key findings
-
Planned surgery wait times have reduced slightly.
-
Public hospital beds have increased modestly.
-
Overall performance remains worse than ten years ago due to growing demand.
The report shows that patients are still waiting too long for care, and emergency departments remain under intense pressure. Only just over half of patients are now completing their emergency visit within four hours, the lowest level on record.
Funding and reform
The federal government recently announced $25 billion in additional funding under the new National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA). While welcomed, AMA analysis suggests at least $34 billion is required to reverse the long-term decline, with further investment needed from states and territories, which manage daily hospital operations.
The AMA will continue to monitor the impact of the new agreement and advocate for reforms to support doctors and improve patient care.
https://www.ama.com.au/
Source: Australian Medical Association