Ambulatory Anorectal Surgery in Australia

Abstract

Ambulatory surgical services are less common in Australia than in the United States. The reasons for this are multifactorial and are predominantly due to different economic incentives and public attitudes in the two countries. In Australia medical care in public institutions is funded by the federal government and is available without additional charges. About 70% of the population receives its medical care through this system. This system includes the university teaching hospitals and the vast majority of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The remaining 30% of the population have health insurance and may elect to receive their health care within the private health care system.