National Health Co-op eyes nationwide expansion

27 July 2016

The National Health Co-op has announced plans for a national expansion, and experts say the business model could address some of the challenges facing Australia’s healthcare system. Founded in the ACT six years ago, the health co-op now has seven medical clinics (with another clinic opening in the coming weeks) in the territory, serving 10 per cent of its population.

CEO of the health co-operative Adrian Watts has said the immediate plan is to extend the business to regions surrounding Canberra, then to fringes in other capital cities and eventually into regional areas.

“We’ve been reached out to by a great number of communities from across the country telling us that they either can’t get in and see a GP in a reasonable time period, or can’t afford to be able to go and see a GP and so don’t go and see a GP when they really should be,” he said.

Specifically Mr Watts pointed to the lack of GP and health services in regional parts of Australia due to GP’s relocating back to larger cities after a period of time in communities.

“Having the co-operative business model, it’s the patients, the members who own the business, the onus is really on the members of the business to welcome a new GP into the town and make them part of that community because they want them there for the long term, and we really think this model will provide that.”

Concluding Mr Watts, predicts that the co-operative model will only grow in significance, and said Australians were tired of the government and private-sector dynamic.

Read also: National Health Co-op expands from the ACT to other states