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National Health Co-op

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An Australian healthcare co-operative
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National Health Cooperative Limited
The NHC branch in Evatt
Company typeCooperative
IndustryHealthcare
FoundedDecember 1, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-12-01) in Canberra, Australia
DefunctOctober 2021 (2021-10)
HeadquartersCanberra, Australia
Number of locations7 (2021)
Areas servedAustralian Capital Territory, Queanbeyan, Yass
Key people
RevenueIncrease A$14,891,179 (2020)
Operating incomeDecrease A$−64,978 (2020)
Net incomeDecrease A$−64,978 (2020)
Total assetsIncrease A$19,466,703 (2020)
Total equityDecrease A$536,522 (2020)
Members32,000 (2020)
Websitenhc.coop at the Wayback Machine (archived 2021-07-12)

The National Health Co-op (NHC) was a Canberra, Australia based healthcare provider founded in 2006. Structured as a cooperative, the organisation offered bulk-billed medical services to its members and Australian National University students. Founded in recognition of the fact that the Australian Capital Territory has the lowest rate of bulk-billing in the country, as of 2021 the NHC constituted 14% of bulk-billed appointments in the region. On 22 June 2021, NHC went into voluntary administration and began a process of restructuring, announcing the closure or transfer of all clinics 22 September 2021. By 2 October 2021, every clinic except the one located on the ANU campus had transferred to new operators, with ANU taking over operations on 25 October.

History

Initially founded in 2006 to fill a gap of bulk-billed healthcare in the West Belconnen area, the organization expanded over the next 13 years to a peak of 11 locations around the Australian Capital Territory and Yass. in 2019, the organization had over 44,000 members and provided over 190,000 appointments annually; in 2020, this had fallen to 32,000 members and provided 186,000 appointments annually. NHC was praised by the Barr Ministry, and in 2021 they announced a territory government operated walk-in centre co-located in the Coombs branch. In 2019, the Waniassa Clinic was closed; In 2020, the Yass and Charnwood Clinics closed, leaving 8 remaining clinics.

In 2017, NHC was awarded a 40-year contract to operate the Australian National University medical clinic as the university sought to privatize its previously in-house services. Under the agreement, students at the university receive free membership and bulk-billed treatment. Despite NHC offering psychology services, the university continues to operate an independent counselling clinic.

On 9 September 2021, the ANU Education Activism Network, a student advocacy group, was made aware that the ANU was undertaking plans to bring the on campus clinic under university operation. By late September, ANU was still in negotiation with NHC regarding the fate of the clinic, only taking over operations in October. As of late 2023, the ANU was looking for a new provider to run their clinic.

Collapse

On 22 June 2021 NHC went into voluntary administration, after the cessation of the JobKeeper welfare program resulted in an "insurmountable" forecast deficit for the 2021/22 financial year. The firm "Slaven Torline" was appointed as the administrators, and stated that the "health service can continue trading for at least three months, given the cash flow". The collapse sparked a debate over the sustainability of the current bulk-billing scheme and rates, as well as a wider discussion on the role of government provided healthcare. Roger Nicoll, a founding member of the preceding organisation, also raised questions about the lack of consultation with the members of the cooperative prior to the announcement.

On 10 August 2020, the administrators announced that an agreement regarding the fate of the provider was expected by the end of September. On 22 September 2021, it was announced that 5 clinics, Coombs, Evatt, Higgins, Kippax, and Macquarie would be sold to new, independent operators by 2 October 2021. The ANU clinic would be brought back under university operation, once the organisation was able to do so. No announcement was made regarding the sole remaining clinic in Chisholm.

References

  1. NHC Annual Report 2018-19 - https://www.nhc.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NHC-Annual-Report-18-19.pdf (Archived)
  1. "ABN Lookup". abr.business.gov.au. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. "ANU Students have access to all services under the National Health Co-Op". ANU. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  3. "Canberra uni students waiting up to a month for counselling". www.abc.net.au. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  4. White, Daniella (22 January 2020). "It could be about to get even harder to see a bulk billing doctor". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  5. ^ Woodley, Matt (21 June 2021). "'Scary' co-op failure sets off 'alarm bells' for general practice". newsGP.
  6. Lewis, Kathryn (22 June 2021). "Calls to address 'vicious cycle' in ACT health system". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  7. "Low-cost healthcare services take a hit in Canberra as National Health Co-op goes under". www.abc.net.au. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  8. ^ Vue, Toby (22 September 2021). "National Co-op saved as new operators to take over". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  9. "Important information for NHC patients". National Health Co-op. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ "ANU to take over operations of Kambri GP clinic | Australian National University". www.anu.edu.au. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  11. ^ Jacobs, Genevieve. "Founding chair asks why members weren't consulted over National Health Co-op's fate". The RiotACT. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  12. "About". National Health Co-op. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. "About the National Health Co-op". www.serviceone.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  14. Annual Report 2019-20 (PDF) (Report). National Health Co-op. 2020.
  15. "Struggling to get in to see a GP? These parents have some tricks up their sleeves". www.abc.net.au. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  16. "Two new National Health Co-op medical clinics to open in Belconnen by early 2016". The Canberra Times. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  17. "The National Health Co-op welcomes the ACT Government's rollout of new Walk-In Health Centres for Canberrans". National Health Co-op. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  18. News, Mirage (28 January 2021). "New Walk-In Health Centres to offer Canberrans care where they need it | Mirage News". www.miragenews.com. Retrieved 22 June 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. "Wanniassa Clinicians Relocating to Coombs". National Health Co-op. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  20. Giannini, Dominic. "Charnwood National Health Co-op clinic to close". The RiotACT. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Canberra's National Health Co-op collapse and the failure of for-profit healthcare | Red Flag". redflag.org.au. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  22. "Medical Services". ANU. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  23. "Mental Health". National Health Co-op. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  24. "Canberra uni students waiting up to a month for counselling". www.abc.net.au. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  25. "ANU Counselling". ANU. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  26. "ANU to take over the health co-op". www.facebook.com. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  27. Vue, Toby (26 September 2021). "'Kick in the teeth': Health jobs, COVID jabs in jeopardy as deadline looms". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  28. Vue, Toby (26 September 2021). "'Kick in the teeth': Health jobs, COVID jabs in jeopardy as deadline looms". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  29. "WoroniAn Underfunded Healthcare System a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: A Look at the ANU Medical Centre and Accessible Healthcare in Canberra". Woroni. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  30. Slaven, Michael (22 June 2020). "Important information for NHC members; Announcement of voluntary administration" (PDF). National Health Co-op.
  31. Jacobs, Genevieve. "National Health Co-operative enters voluntary administration". The RiotACT. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  32. "Lack of bulk-billing is Canberra's shame". The Canberra Times. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  33. "ACT co-op fail becomes an RACGP credibility fail • The Medical Republic". The Medical Republic. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  34. Lewis, Kathryn (10 August 2021). "Negotiations under way to save eight ACT GP clinics facing closure". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  35. "New Ownership". National Health Co-op. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  36. Giannini, Dominic. "Five National Health Co-op clinics to become private general practices". The RiotACT. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

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