Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Wednesday the government was serious about reforming the nation's ailing health system.
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission's final report on the health system recommended Canberra should take over the funding for hospital outpatient services and community health centers, but not the hospitals themselves.
However, Roxon said the government was elected on the promise to fix the nation's hospitals.
"We are deadly serious about reforming our health system," she told reporters in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the health minister said human trials for A/H1N1 flu vaccine began in Adelaide on Wednesday.
"As soon as I have confirmation that the vaccine is safe and effective, I will ensure it can be rolled out to the community," she said.
There are currently 14,037 people across Australia who have confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu.
Some 231 people have been hospitalized with the virus including 96 who are in intensive care.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)
