Improving the efficiency of the health care system: what can Australia learn from Canada and the UK?

Many other countries face similar economic challenges around healthcare spending, yet their policy response is somewhat different than what we have traditionally seen in Australia. In a number of countries including Canada and some parts of Europe there is a move to more explicit and transparent decision making and priority setting processes. These processes include resource allocation (investment) and withdrawal (disinvestment) decisions. This short article will explore the Canadian and English priority setting practices around disinvestment and consider the transferable lessons for Australia.