Public General Hospitals in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: September 2024
ANZSIC Q8401aRevenue
$91.1bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
403k
Businesses
8
Wages
$XX.Xbn
Public General Hospitals in Australia industry analysis
Growth in the Public General Hospitals industry has been supported in part by increased government funding. Public hospitals are primarily funded through federal and state governments, with private health insurance and other non-public revenue sources expected to account for less than 10.0% of industry funding in 2024-25. Public hospital services funding under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) is expected to reach $30.1 billion in 2024-25, having steadily risen over the past decade. There has been a simultaneous expansion in the need for public general hospitals, driven by Australia's ageing population and the rising incidence of chronic illness among adults.
Trends and Insights
- Under the National Health Reform Agreement, public hospital funding is the shared responsibility of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments. State governments own and fund most public general hospitals, while the Federal Government provides additional funding, although this is capped.
- Public general hospitals provide various care services, including emergency department care, admitted patient care and outpatient (non-admitted patient) care. On a volume basis, outpatient care is the largest service provided.
- The location of public general hospitals mirrors the distribution of Australia’s population. Other factors affecting hospital location include population age distribution, birth rates, household incomes and government health policies.
- Competition among public hospitals is largely based on the services available, the quality of care provided and waiting times to undergo procedures or treatment. The MyHospitals website has made it easier for individuals to compare public hospital service quality.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $91.1bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
COVID-19 disrupted the industry and added to capacity constraints
- According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, less than 0.1% of hospital separations in 2019-20 and 2020-21 involved a COVID-19 diagnosis. Nonetheless, the pandemic significantly disrupted the industry, primarily in the types of services provided and the increased protection required for both health professionals and patients to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Despite additional capacity, labour constraints will hamper the sector
- In 2022-23 (latest data available), there were 2.50 beds per 1,000 of the population, up from 2.47 beds in 2019-20, with a rise in available public hospital bed numbers boosting this ratio. Still, this ratio remains below pre-COVID levels of 2.53 in 2018-19, suggesting the need for further capacity to be added to Australia's public hospital system.
Biggest companies in the Public General Hospitals in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
NSW Health | 30,300.0 | |
Queensland Health | 21,700.0 | |
Department of Health | 14,500.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Non-admitted patient care, Emergency department care and Admitted patient care. Non-admitted patient care is the largest segment of the Public General Hospitals in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Public hospitals struggle with an elective surgery backlog in admitted patient care
- Admitted patient care is provided to patients who undergo a formal admission process into the hospital to receive treatment or care.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- General Practice Medical Services in Australia
- Specialist Medical Services in Australia
- Private General Hospitals in Australia
Complementors
- Psychiatric Hospitals in Australia
- Dental Services in Australia
- Health Services in Australia
- Aged Care Residential Services in Australia
International industries
- Hospitals in the US
- Hospitals in Canada
- Hospitals in New Zealand
- Hospitals in the UK
- Krankenhäuser
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Public general hospitals provide medical, surgical and diagnostic services and continuous inpatient nursing care, and receive most of their funding from government and non-profit organisations. The industry also includes establishments that provide both hospital facilities and training of medical and nursing staff.
What's included in this industry?
Admitted patient careEmergency department careNon admitted patient careCompanies
NSW HealthQueensland HealthDepartment of HealthPurchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ACTIVITY-BASED FUNDINGINPATIENTOUTPATIENTPATIENT SEPARATIONEFFICIENT GROWTHIndustry Code
ANZSIC 840 - Public General Hospitals in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Under the National Health Reform Agreement, public hospital funding is the shared responsibility of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments. State governments own a...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Public general hospitals provide various care services, including emergency department care, admitted patient care and outpatient (non-admitted patient) care. On a volume bas...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The location of public general hospitals mirrors the distribution of Australia’s population. Other factors affecting hospital location include population age distribution, bi...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition among public hospitals is largely based on the services available, the quality of care provided and waiting times to undergo procedures or treatment. The MyHospit...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
State health departments dominate the industry as the major providers of health services in Australia. Each state health department manages hospitals of different sizes and p...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of NSW Health's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Queensland Health's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Department of Health's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for NSW Health, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Queensland Health, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Department of Health, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The industry heavily depends on government funding, with Commonwealth, state and territory funding accounting for over 90% of total public general hospital expenditures annual...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Public hospitals typically operate without a profit incentive and derive most of their value from labour services. This makes wages the largest component of the Public Genera...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia is $91.1bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Public General Hospitals in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 8 businesses in the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Public General Hospitals market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Public General Hospitals market in Australia are NSW Health, Queensland Health and Department of Health
What does the Public General Hospitals in Australia include?
Admitted patient care and Emergency department care are part of the Public General Hospitals industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Public General Hospitals in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is NSW Health.
How competitive is the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Public General Hospitals industry in Australia.
