Privatisation of teaching hospitals.

Australia's major academic health centres not only provide excellent healthcare, but are also involved in one of the most important aspects of the healthcare system -the training of our future health professionals. Most teaching hospitals are also involved in basic and clinical research, and many have major research institutes on their campuses. This symbiosis of healthcare, research and training has served us well, but is now under considerable threat from the fiscal constraints within the healthcare system (particularly in Victoria, where, despite the increase in throughput and reduction in waiting lists as a consequence of casemix funding, there has been a decline in funding to hospitals in real terms).