The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability today announced a new inquiry into access to and affordability of medical specialists in Australia.
The inquiry will examine the availability, cost and equity of access to medical specialist services across Australia, including in metropolitan, regional and rural communities, and will consider the impacts on patients, families and the broader health system.
Chair of the Committee, Dr Mike Freelander MP, said the inquiry would consider the growing challenges Australians face in accessing timely and affordable specialist care.
"Access to medical specialists is critical to early diagnosis, effective treatment and better health outcomes. However, many Australians are experiencing long waiting times, high out‑of‑pocket costs and difficulties navigating referral pathways, particularly outside major cities," Dr Freelander said.
"This inquiry will examine how the system is working in practice, where barriers exist, and what reforms or new models of care could improve access and affordability for patients."
As part of the inquiry, the Committee will examine:
- current access to medical specialists in cities, regional and rural communities, including workforce distribution, shortages, waiting times, and barriers to recruitment, retention and training;
- the effectiveness, transparency and equity of referral pathways from the perspectives of patients, primary health care practitioners and medical specialists across the public and private health sectors;
- the affordability of specialist services, including out‑of‑pocket costs for consultations, diagnostics and procedures, access through public health services, and factors influencing fee setting;
- the impacts of delays caused by cost, distance and waiting times on patient outcomes and on the wider health system, including primary care, emergency departments, public hospitals and chronic disease management, as well as impacts on people due to deferred or missed care; and
- innovative and emerging models of care that may improve access to medical specialists.
The Committee encourages all interested individuals, including patients, carers, health professionals, professional bodies, governments, academics and community organisations to make a submission by Friday, 16 October 2026.
Further information about the Committee's inquiry, including the full terms of reference and specific details on how to lodge a submission are available at the Committee's website.
