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- Queensland Health is the name of the overall public health service in the state of Queensland, Australia. Like all other states and territories in Australia, the Queensland Government provides low- or no-cost primary, secondary, and tertiary health services to eligible citizens, residents and visitors through general government taxation and Medicare. Queensland Health is formed of the Department of Health and 16 Hospital and Health Services (HHS'). Each HHS covers a certain geographical region of Queensland, with the exception of the state-wide paediatric specialty service, Children's Health Queensland. The Department of Health is responsible for management and performance of the system, and HHS support services like centralised supply and procurement, HR, and IT services. Most HHS' also have associated foundations and authorities, which provide additional financial and promotional support. Across the entire network, Queensland Health employs over 97,000 staff and has an annual operating budget of almost AU$30 billion. At the end of June 2014, there were 11,109 inpatient beds available across all state hospitals. There are 305 routinely available intensive care beds within the public system, with up to 950 available across the public and private system if needed. All HHS have existing contracts with private sector hospitals to be able to access these beds in an emergency. On 1 January 1946, Queensland became the first state in Australia to introduce free universal public hospital treatment, a policy later adopted by other jurisdictions. Created in 1975, Medicare gives Australian citizens and permanent residents access to low or no-cost health services, including doctors, nurse practitioners, medications (through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), and some allied health, in both the public and private health systems. Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with 11 other nations, covering the cost of medically necessary care when Australians visit certain countries, and visitors from these countries visit Australia. (en)
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