COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS COMMON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NEEDS

HealthCARE

Co-operative primary healthcare providers

Provides affordable medical and healthcare services

Because their focus is their members and they are not profit maximising, primary healthcare co-operatives are able to deliver medical services that are often more affordable than their listed counterparts.

Provides a wide range of healthcare services at no or low cost

Primary healthcare co-operatives are able to provide services at low cost because they place a focus on member value ahead of short-term profit.

Opens new primary care facilities in under-served areas

Primary healthcare co-operatives are better able to operate in under served areas because their focus is on serving their members rather than maximising profits; they are more likely to open new facilities in areas where their listed counterparts would not.

Owned by patients and operates to serve the community’s interests

Because primary healthcare co-operatives are owned by their members they can focus on the local interests of particular communities, informed through dialogue with their members.

Examples

Australian Friendly Societies Pharmacies Association

AFSPA represents Friendly Society Pharmacies, community pharmacies owned by not-for-profit Friendly Societies rather than pharmacists. Friendly Societies in Australia began providing community services in primary health care in the 1830s. The Association has members covering some 900,000 individuals.

Year established: 1990

Type: Friendly Societies

Industry: Healthcare

Australian Unity

Australian Unity is a national healthcare, financial services and independent and assisted living organisation with over 7,000 employees providing services to nearly a million Australians, including around 260,000 members nationwide. Australian Unity’s retirement communities assist over 3,000 older Australians to continue to live as independently as possible in communities with friends and supports. Australian Unity’s history as an independent mutual dates back 175 years.

Year established: 1840

Type: Mutual

Industry: Healthcare, Insurance & Risk Protection, Private Health Insurance

HCF

HCF is Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund with more than 1.5 million members nationwide. On average, over the last 5 years HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits, than the industry average.

Year established: 1932