Australian Healthcare System vs UK Healthcare System: Which is better for you?

Thinking about a medical career overseas? If you're considering whether to practise in the UK or Australia, you're not alone and deciding where to settle down to begin - or continue - your path in medicine can be tricky. 

Both the UK and Australia offer rewarding opportunities for doctors, along with high standards of patient care and internationally respected healthcare systems. However, they do differ in ways that can significantly impact your day-to-day work, training, and lifestyle.

In this guide, we break down the key differences between the UK NHS (National Health Service) and Australia’s healthcare system - helping UK doctors moving to Australia and vice versa - so you can make an informed decision about where to take your next career step.

UK vs Australia healthcare: At a glance

Healthcare system structure

UK - The NHS (National Health Service)

The NHS is a publicly funded system, free at the point of use for patients and healthcare is primarily delivered through government hospitals and GP practices. It launched back in 1948 with a single core principle: healthcare should be free at the point of use for everyone.

Key features:

• Universal coverage regardless of income, age or employment status

• Funded through taxation

• Patients don’t pay directly for GP visits, hospital stays or emergency care

• Centralised workforce, funding and service delivery

• Standardised pay scales and training pathways

• Managed centrally by NHS England (and devolved bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

• Long waiting times are a common challenge

How the NHS works for doctors:

• Most healthcare professionals are salaried employees of the NHS

• Jobs and training posts are allocated through centralised national recruitment

• Strictly regulated working hours and contracts (e.g., the Junior Doctors Contract)

• Primary care (GPs) may work independently but still contract with the NHS

Challenges with the NHS:

• Increasing patient demand and severe underfunding in some areas

• Longer wait times for non-urgent care

• Bureaucratic processes can limit autonomy in clinical decision-making

Benefits of the NHS:

• Consistent structure across regions

• Clearly defined training pathways and job roles for healthcare positions

• Strong choice for doctors who value stability, system support and universal healthcare ethics

Australia - Medicare & mixed funding

Does Australia have an NHS? If you’re used to only the UK system, Australia’s model is actually quite different.

Australia’s healthcare system is a hybrid of public and private care, combining the universal scheme of Medicare with a thriving private sector. Patients can choose to be treated under either or both systems depending on their needs and/or preferences. Medicare covers basic services, but many people choose to supplement with private insurance for quicker access or specific specialists.

Key features:

• Medicare is funded by taxation (and a 2% Medicare levy on income)

• This covers most GP consultations, public hospital care and some allied health services

• Private insurance, which is encouraged and subsidised to reduce public sector pressure, offers faster access to elective care and private hospitals

• GPs often operate as independent contractors

• Higher patient co-payments for some services - this is known as a “gap fee” paid out-of-pocket for services that are not fully covered by Medicare

How the Australian system works for doctors:

• GPs often work as independent contractors or business owners, billing Medicare directly for services

• Hospital doctors are usually salaried through state or territory health systems

• Greater variation between states in hiring, pay and service delivery

• Flexible working models - particularly for GPs and locum roles

Challenges with the Australian system:

• Navigating dual billing systems (bulk-billing vs private fees)

• Regional and rural areas often face doctor shortages and limited facilities

• Some disparity in access and service quality, particularly outside metro areas

Benefits of the Australian system:

• Higher income potential for healthcare professionals, especially in general practice (GP)

• More autonomy over working hours and location can lead to a much better work-life balance

• Well-resourced infrastructure and modern facilities across hospitals

Medical training systems

Whether you're an international medical graduate (IMG) or a local graduate, understanding how each country structures its training pathways and licensing exams is crucial for taking that all-important next step in your career. While both the UK and Australia maintain rigorous medical standards, the routes to registration, training progression and recognition do differ significantly.

Let’s break down what you’ll need to qualify, practice and specialise in each country.

United Kingdom - PLAB, GMC & structured specialty training

The UK medical training system is highly structured and centrally coordinated, particularly within the NHS. This can be reassuring for doctors who want a clear, linear career pathway from day one.

Medical registration: GMC & PLAB

Most IMGs must pass the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) exam to obtain registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).

Here’s a quick breakdown of PLAB:

• PLAB 1: A multiple-choice exam (180 SBAs) testing clinical knowledge and decision-making

• PLAB 2: A practical OSCE assessing communication, professionalism and patient interaction

Once both parts are passed, and other criteria are met (e.g., IELTS/OET), you can register with the GMC. Some candidates may be exempt from PLAB if they’ve completed recognised qualifications (e.g., MRCP, MRCS).

After registration, doctors enter a nationalised training system:

Australia - AMC, AHPRA & decentralised career pathways

Can UK doctors work in Australia? Since Australia’s healthcare system differs from the UK’s, medical professionals must register with the Australian Medical Council (AMC). They may be required to undertake additional training or examinations, depending on their chosen pathway. 

This is because Australia’s training system is less centralised and more state-dependent when compared to the UK, offering IMGs multiple entry routes and pathways. As a result, it’s a system that requires more individual navigation.

Medical registration: AMC & AHPRA

International graduates typically pursue registration through the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Here’s a quick breakdown of AMC:

• AMC Part 1: A multiple-choice exam (150 SBAs) assessing clinical knowledge

• AMC Part 2: A clinical OSCE-style exam testing communication and practical skills

Upon successful completion, candidates may apply for provisional or limited registration.

The Australian healthcare training system does offer alternative routes, including:

• Competent Authority Pathway for UK, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada-trained doctors

• Specialist Pathway for those with specialist qualifications assessed by the relevant college

Unlike the UK, Australia doesn’t have a unified national training scheme. Instead, each state and college manages its own recruitment and training processes.

The specialty colleges in Australia include:

• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

• Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM)

• Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)

• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP)

• College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM)

• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)

• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)

• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)

Top-level training comparison: UK vs Australia

 

We hope this has given you an in-depth look at the main things you need to know about deciding between a medical career in the UK, or settling down overseas in Australia. Both come with their benefits and their challenges, so it’s important that you weigh up all the factors before making a decision. 

If you feel like it's time to take the PLAB exam soon, make sure you’re fully prepared and ready to pass with flying colours with Pastest’s PLAB revision resource - which contains everything you need to smash both exams.