In an important development, it has been learnt that the concerned medical association of Australia is in favor of insurance for health becoming compulsory for all those overseas aspirants who are keen on acquiring visas of the country. This comes in the wake of a recent data made available by the involved body, according to which, over the last six years, there has been an increase, of as much as 300%, in the number of those migrants who have used medical facilities offered at the many public hospitals of the Victoria province.

The said report states that between the period of June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2011, more than 30,000 patients — who did not have the citizenship of the Kangaroo Land – availed of medical facilities at the many hospitals of the province. Many fear that the swell could be thanks to the growth registered in healthcare tourism, under which people migrate to an overseas destination for medical purposes. It must be noted that not all visa aspirants must possess medical insurance, even as several patients regularly make an exit from the nation without settling their hospital bills.

At the present, and as a part of their entry requirements, people with Student Visas and skilled employees, and those who are dependent on them, on the 457 subclass visas, must have health insurance. Those keen on tourist visas are not required to furnish evidence of health insurance. Still, pressurizing those having visit visas to possess medical insurance could discourage such individuals from visiting Down Under, and also have an overall negative impact on the thriving tourism industry of the country.

It needs to be mentioned that the Kangaroo Land has mutual healthcare deal with many nations, even as those who have citizenship of these nations may avail of healthcare facilities Down Under, much like those who enjoy the permanent residency status of the nation.