Shorten’s big plans for health

CANCER patients will be offered free treatment in a $2.3 billion commitment under Labor that will be the biggest overhaul since Medicare was introduced.

In a win for the one in two Australians who receive a cancer diagnosis at some time in their lives, a Labor government would slash out-of-pocket costs that now exceed $10,000 for a quarter of patients.

Drawing on his own mother’s battle with breast cancer, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten last night pledged to do all he could to ease the burden on Australians battling the deadly diseases.

“You pay your taxes to Canberra. You pay your Medicare levy,” Mr Shorten told parliament. “And if I am elected Prime Minister, I’m going to make sure the healthcare system is there for you when you need it most.”

Up to six million free X-rays, ultrasounds, mammograms, CT scans and PET scans will be offered under Labor’s $600 million plan to scrap patient costs for diagnostic imaging. Every MRI machine in the country would be able to provide Medicare rebates. More cancer drugs would also be subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Labor said.