Nearly half of Australian patients who need urgent attention and care from general practitioners (GP) have to wait more than 24 hours.

The issue is more pressing in regional areas where access to medical facilities or quality healthcare has traditionally been a major problem.

Ageing populations and the increasing rate of chronic illnesses without the necessary workforce to match the demand have made things worse, pushing the healthcare system to its limit.

However, Australia has a unique opportunity to tackle the situation by setting up services that help to mitigate the problems. That’s why the Australian government is focused on telehealth.

With the federal election is fast approaching, the Australian Labor Party is using telehealth as the backbone of their campaign and they are making a lot of promises.

Embracing 24/7 telehealth as a national service under Medicare can take the nation’s healthcare sector to the next level.

One of their ambitious pledges if they are re-elected is to launch 1800MEDICARE, guaranteeing a free, round-the-clock telehealth service for every Australian.

Telehealth is not a new concept, but Labor has promised to make it more accessible to take the pressure off the healthcare sector, especially for those in remote and rural areas.

Telehealth Could be a Game-Changer in Australia

Telehealth started as a temporary solution during the pandemic, but it has now become a crucial part of Australian healthcare, bridging the gap between patient and doctor through smart devices.

It is now a permanent fixture in many people’s lives, helping patients get their medical needs sorted out without having to schedule a face-to-face doctor’s appointment.

There are several independent telehealth providers across the country, but not all of them can offer the top-quality virtual care Australians demand.

Information about telehealth can also be confusing, especially for patients new to the service. However, platforms such as Medicompare are helping Australians make sense of it all.

Medicompare makes it easy to compare telehealth providers and find trusted, affordable care, fast.

Businesses such as InstantScripts and Hola Health are major players in Australia. They offer a range of virtual healthcare services, bringing affordable care directly to patients' fingertips.

For example, InstantScripts has made it possible for Australians to connect to their doctors online and get prescriptions without setting foot in a clinic.

It is the ideal platform for those who may need to refill their prescriptions or get quick medical advice but don’t have the time to drive down to a hospital.

InstantScripts has a network of registered doctors trained to respond quickly and take care of these situations. The platform gives patients access to medical care that fits into their lifestyles.

Hola Health has also thrived as a digital healthcare platform, facilitating over 40,000 consultations daily. They have built a network that seamlessly connects patients, pharmacies and doctors.

But they’re not done. They’re still keen to bridge the gap in vital medical services and make quality healthcare a reality for all Australians.

Labor’s Healthcare Track Record and Re-election Promises

Labor’s push for 24/7 telehealth builds on a broader healthcare agenda that has already resulted in major reforms under the Anthony Albanese government. Since taking office, the party has:

• Tripled the bulk billing incentive for pensioners, concession card holders, and families with children.

• Restored bulk billing for 11 million Australians, making room for six million additional GP visits.

• Delivered the most significant price cut for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions in history.

• Established 87 bulk-billed Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, taking pressure off hospital emergency rooms.

• Opened 22 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics to better support women’s health.

• Created 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres to increase access to mental health services.

The Labor government deserves praise for streamlining the medical sector. More people are seeing doctors in Australia without worrying about expenses.

More parents are getting help for postpartum mental health struggles. More women are finally being heard and treated for chronic conditions that were previously dismissed or underdiagnosed.

But they are not stopping there. With re-election coming up, the Labor Government has promised to deliver more bulk billing for Australians.

They want to make the largest investment in Medicare history that will deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits every year.

They also want to open 50 more clinics so four out of five Australians will live within a 20-minute drive from a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic under Labor.

Healthcare has always been a battleground in Australian federal elections, and Labor has done well to sell the promise of 24/7 telehealth, but they also need to convince voters they can pull it off.

The conversation in Australia is no longer about ‘if’ telehealth should expand, but how and who will make it happen.