Why Australia’s Health System Struggles to Deliver Care at Scale – with Dr Omar Khorshid

Australia’s health system is facing mounting pressure as public hospitals struggle with demand, workforce capacity tightens, and chronic disease continues to rise. At the same time, shifts in private health insurance toward managed care and vertical integration are reshaping how care is funded, delivered, and governed. These changes raise fundamental questions about patient choice, clinical autonomy, and long-term system sustainability.In this conversation, Dr Katharine Bassett is joined by Dr Omar Khorshid, former President of the Australian Medical Association, to examine where Australia’s health system is heading and what reforms are required to stabilise it. Drawing on frontline clinical experience and national policy leadership, the discussion explores the structural forces shaping care delivery today.Topics covered- Public hospital capacity constraints and workforce pressure- The rise of managed care and insurer vertical integration- Implications for patient choice and clinician independence- Government regulation, oversight, and market design- The sugar tax debate and broader prevention policy trade-offs📥 JOIN Amplieo+ on Substack for early access to episodes, exclusive videos, and bonus content: https://amplieo.substack.comLEARN more about Amplieo: https://www.amplieo.com📲 FOLLOW Amplieo on socialsLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/amplieoInstagram: https://instagram.com/amplieoYouTube: https://youtube.com/@amplieo Get full access to Amplieo at amplieo.substack.com/subscribe