Supply and demand – a health economic perspective on the Australian hospital and elective surgery crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to longstanding structural shortfalls in the supply of healthcare services in high-income countries, including Australia. These impacts are reflected in Australian public hospital key performance indicators for acute care, elective surgery and hospital exit block. The challenges occur in the context of increased demand following the suspension of a range of healthcare services during the pandemic. The main supply challenge is suitable numbers of skilled healthcare workers. Rebalancing of supply and demand in healthcare is challenging, but needs to be achieved. What is known about this topic? There were pre-existing healthcare workforce and infrastructure shortages before the pandemic. What does this paper add? The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to longstanding structural shortfalls in the supply of healthcare services. The challenges occur in the context of increased demand following the suspension of a range of healthcare services during the pandemic. What are the implications for practitioners? Rebalancing of supply and demand in healthcare requires national action on workforce recruitment and retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]