A new report investigates the future of Australia’s medical workforce and finds a number of pressures such as increasing costs and digital disruption changing the way doctors deliver care to patients.

As Australia’s health expenditure continues to grow — currently $181 billion and 10.3 per cent of our gross domestic product — governments and health insurers are increasingly concerned about both the growth in spending and its value; that is, whether this growth is delivering improved health outcomes and access for the population.

This reflects the concerns of the average Australian, including high out-of-pocket costs and the value of private healthcare, as well as persistently longer public hospital waiting times.

This mix of issues reflects the complex structure of our healthcare system, of changing patterns of disease (especially increasing prevalence of chronic disease), high public expectations and technological change.