Budget Priorities New Spending on Health The Budget contains a number of initiatives to help maintain the good health of the Australian people.
The Government will introduce changes so another 150 doctors will work in outer-metropolitan areas. This will mean better access to medical services for families living in these areas.				improving access to GPs in outer metropolitan areas
The Government will provide $73 million in funding over four years to build up to six new radiation oncology facilities outside the capital cities and fund their operation. This will reduce the distance and time that rural and regional patients must travel to access care. Part of the funding also will be used to attract and retain appropriately trained staff to the new facilities.				better treatment for rural and regional cancer patients
To improve the safety of public places, the Government will fund a product development and implementation strategy for the introduction of retractable needle and syringe technology in Australia.				improving public safety
A new medical service, Visudyne Therapy, will be available under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Visudyne Therapy is used to treat `wet type' macular degeneration, a condition eventually leading to blindness and primarily affecting older Australians.				Visudyne Therapy
Rising Commonwealth spending on Health