Australians pay among the lowest rates for several common surgeries, according to a report by Compare the Market.
Colonoscopies were cheapest in Australia of the six countries surveyed, with Australians also paying comparatively low rates for appendectomies, gastric bypasses, rhinoplasties, and cataract surgeries.
“Prices varied heavily between each country studied, however the U.S.A. was the most expensive for four of the seven surgeries we looked at, almost doubling the cost of the second most country in each surgery,” according to Compare the Market.
Australia saw the second-lowest prices for appendectomies, and the third-lowest prices for cataract surgeries, gastric bypasses, knee replacements, and rhinoplasties.
Australian hip replacement surgeries were A$25,600, more than double Germany’s $12,018, the cheapest price option. Australian knee replacement surgeries were the third-cheapest at A$23,200.
Canada represented the cheapest option for a plurality of the surgeries surveyed, with Canadians paying the lowest rate for cataract surgeries, gastric bypasses, and knee replacements.
The United States reported the most expensive appendectomies, gastric bypasses, hip replacements, and knee replacements. Germany posted the most expensive cataract surgeries, while the United Kingdom had the most costly colonoscopies and New Zealand had the most expensive rhinoplasties.
Public hospital admissions for elective surgery in Australia rose by 5.8% across the 2023-2024 year, according to National Seniors Australia, and reached a new high of 778,500. Cataract surgeries were the most common procedure, representing 11% of these admissions.
