The Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to push for the Territory to receive its fair share of federal health funding at a national meeting of health ministers.
Minister for Health Steve Edgington, who will attend the ministers meeting in Brisbane today, said the federal Labor Government was chronically underfunding Territory hospitals.
"Right now, the NT gets the worst deal in the nation - we receive the lowest health funding contribution rate in the country at only 31.8%. Hitting even the national average would mean another $200 million for Territory patients.
"And that is before we even start to talk about the things that the Commonwealth is responsible for directly, but where NT Health spends Territory dollars because the necessary services and facilities are not provided by Canberra, which is another almost $200 million.
"So, the Territory is $400 million short before we even get to an equitable level and then we can talk about the Commonwealth meeting the promised level of more funding of 42.5% by 2030," Mr Edgington said.
"The Finocchiaro CLP Government has done our part - not only funding things Canberra should but we have also lifted base health funding and expanded Royal Darwin Hospital to tackle bed shortages head-on and deliver better patient care.
"Territorians need the Australian Government to fund healthcare in the Territory to at least the national average of 37.5%. Territorians deserve nothing less" Mr Edgington said.
Mr Edgington said Territorians were still waiting on the Federal Government to deliver on its promised more aged care beds for the Territory.
"Labor's failure to deliver aged-care beds means up to 80 senior Territorians stranded in hospital beds instead of the dignified care they deserve. It's a shameful way to treat people who've spent a lifetime contributing, and it forces families to make heartbreaking decisions about leaving the Territory."
"This is also a $40 million annual hit to Territory taxpayers and getting this new aged-care facility open will take real pressure off our hospitals."
The NT has the highest aged care occupancy rate at 92.2% and the longest hospital stays for patients awaiting aged care placement. The NT also has fewer residential aged care beds per capita with 47.5 beds per 1000 people over 70 years of age, compared to the national average of 67.5 beds.
"The previous NT Labor Government failed to find a provider and at its first attempt, the federal government also failed to find a provider in the last round of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program, so they had to run an EOI process.
"I, like every Territorian, hopes it is third time lucky, and a provider is found this time as aged care beds are very much needed," Mr Edgington said.
"The Northern Territory is doing our part- we have offered land near Palmerston Regional Hospital which can be ready to go soon after the Commonwealth finalise their EOI process.
"The provider will also benefit from our payroll tax reforms making it easier for charities and non-profits to operate in the Territory.
"The CLP has delivered on our end and created a more attractive environment for aged care providers to step in and invest in the Territory and build the beds that need to be built.
"Now we need the Commonwealth to come to the table and deliver through its EOI process and get moving.
"Canberra has set a three-year construction deadline, but Territorians need it up and running well before then."
"In our year of action, certainty and security, the CLP Government has stepped in, but we cannot shoulder this alone - it's time for the Commonwealth to do its job or pay NT Health $40 million."
