Progress report on the Productivity Commission's study of the impact of advances in medical technology on public and private healthcare expenditure, and the associated costs and benefits for the Australian community.

The commission found that in many cases, higher spending on new medical technologies reflected a significant increase in the number of people treated, not simply higher prices. But the commission also concluded that it was impossible to establish the precise impact of all advances in medical technology on the overall cost effectiveness of the health system. While many technologies provide value for money, the cost effectiveness of some technologies is either unknown or varies widely.

Released 19 April 2005