Queensland Health Minister unveils plan to save the health budget up to $330 million a year

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles has unveiled a plan to save the state’s health budget up to $330 million a year, with the savings to be ploughed back into patient care.

QUEENSLAND Health Minister Steven Miles has unveiled a plan to save the state’s health budget up to $330 million a year, with the savings to be put back into patient care.

Queensland Treasury Corporation modelling has identified savings of between $180 million and $330 million a year over three years if Queensland Health takes over procurement from public hospitals for the purchase of items such as pharmaceuticals and equipment.

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Mr Miles will put the purchase and distribution of medicines out to tender this week, with projected savings of tens of millions of dollars annually.

“With demand for health care growing at an incredible rate, we need to find innovative ways of creating value, both for patients and for the health system,” Mr Miles said.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane, Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

“We operate a health system in the most dispersed state in the country, which presents challenges.

“Queensland Health has the advantage of a central pharmacy to streamline supply of pharmaceuticals so there’s a smoother process in place for all health facilities. This enables us to use our statewide buying power instead of a piecemeal approach.”