Labor’s Ella Haddad says $10m travel bill for medical treatment highlights lack of planning

The government has defended Labor’s criticism of a $10m bill for Tasmanians going interstate for medical treatment. Read why they disagree.

Team of surgeon doctors are performing heart surgery operation for patient from organ donor to save more life in the emergency surgical room

More than $10m has been spent in the past three years sending Tasmanians interstate for medical treatment, which Labor says highlights a lack of long-term planning.

However, the government says it makes no apologies for ensuring Tasmanians have appropriate health care when they need it.

A Right to Information request to the Department of Health by Labor showed $10.4m was spent on flights, accommodation and ancillary costs and did not include medical treatment.

The spending was from July 2021 to October 2024.

Labor’s health spokeswoman Ella Haddad said the spending highlighted the government’s “failure to meet the healthcare needs of Tasmanians”.

“The Liberal government spending $10m sending patients interstate for treatment highlights a critical lack of capacity and long-term planning,” she said.

“Many of these are health services that could be delivered in Tasmania, but the reality is our health system is under-resourced and overstretched so the Health Department is sending these patients interstate to be treated at the taxpayers’ expense.

“THS staff do an incredible job considering the pressure they’ve been put under by the state government and it’s time they were provided with adequate support.

“Instead of cuts and expensive band-aid solutions like flying patients to interstate hospitals for treatment, the government should be focused on building a sustainable Tasmanian Health Service by addressing staffing levels, improving working conditions, and directly employing a strong and stable workforce.”

Ella Haddad Labor member for Clark. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

However, a government spokeswoman said the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) provided financial assistance to thousands of Tasmanian residents, “many of whom have rare and complex conditions, who need to travel to access highly specialised lifesaving medical care, including through Centre’s of Excellence interstate”.

“This ranges from people living in rural and regional areas, who need to travel to hospitals in metro areas, as well as Tasmanians who need to travel interstate to receive highly specialised care,” she said.

“As well, residents from King and Flinders Islands, for whom travel is always necessary, with interstate treatment often closer and more cost-effective.

“This is about saving people’s lives and we make no apologies for ensuring Tasmanians are getting the right care, at the right time, in the right place, when they need it.

“By playing politics with this, Labor are clearly demonstrating they would abandon Tasmanians in need, and put patients’ health, lives and safety at risk.”

Last year PTAS provided financial support to 13,456 Tasmanians requiring medical services outside of their local area.

PTAS also supported 7209 escorts required for medical reasons.

The scheme was reviewed in 2022 to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively and provides maximum benefit to Tasmanians.