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Private General Hospitals in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: September 2024 ANZSIC Q8401b

Revenue

$24.1bn

2024-25

$24.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

147k

Businesses

19

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Private General Hospitals in Australia industry analysis

As with other healthcare services, hospital services in Australia are delivered through a mix of public and private providers. Approximately one-third of Australia's hospitals are operated by private for-profit operators and not-for-profit religious and charitable institutions. Australia's ageing population and climbing rates of obesity and chronic disease have supported demand for private hospital services in recent years, as has a marginal boost in private health insurance membership. Even so, activity volumes, as measured by hospital separations and patient days, have slowed and constrained revenue growth. Disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic – including elective surgery restrictions – have contributed to recent volatility in activity volumes, as have ongoing labour shortages, which are holding back private hospital capacity and adding to profit margin pressures.

Trends and Insights

  • Private general hospitals account for under one-third of all patient days of care, with this share falling in recent years. Growth in the number of patient days in private hospitals has been comparatively slower relative to public hospitals.
  • Acute care accounts for the lion’s share of private hospital separations. This proportion has increased further in recent years, with a corresponding fall in the number of rehabilitation and palliative care separations.
  • The location of private general hospitals mirrors the distribution of the general population. Australia's eastern seaboard states account for over three-quarters of all industry establishments, matching their population share.
  • Price, quality of service and waiting times are key factors that determine private hospitals’ competitiveness. The Federal Government's MyHospitals website provides a platform for patients to compare key hospital performance measures and statistics, with 418 private hospitals participating.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $24.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic distorted hospital separation trends and disrupted growth

  • The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 prompted dramatic changes to private hospitals' operating backdrop and activity levels, disrupting their previous growth path. As part of the Australian government's COVID-19 pandemic response, private hospitals were integrated with state and territory health systems to form a new temporary national health system.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Private General Hospitals in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Ongoing challenges will continue to hinder the industry's performance

  • According to a March 2024 press release by the Australian Private Hospitals Association, the onus for the private hospital sector’s ongoing viability lies with Australia's health insurance companies. Similarly, Ramsay Health Care is warning that the system will break down if reimbursements don’t keep up with inflationary pressures.

Biggest companies in the Private General Hospitals in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Ramsay Health Care
5,670.0
ANZ Hospitals Topco
2,525.0
St John of God Health Care
1,625.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Private General Hospitals in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Acute care involving surgery, Acute care services (other than surgical) and Subacute and non-acute care services. Acute care involving surgery is the largest segment of the Private General Hospitals in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Acute care services (other than surgical) dominate private hospital services

  • Acute care services refer to care where the primary clinical purpose of treatment is to relieve symptoms of illness or injury, reduce an illness or injury's severity, cure an illness or provide definitive treatment of an injury, perform diagnostic or therapeutic procedures for treating an illness or injury, or protect against an illness or injury being exacerbated or complicated.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Private general hospitals provide medical, surgical and diagnostic services, as well as continuous inpatient nursing care. The industry also includes establishments that provide both hospital facilities and training of medical and nursing staff. The industry does not include public-private partnerships.

What's included in this industry?

Acute care involving surgeryAcute care services (other than surgical)Subacute and non-acute care servicesChildbirth servicesMental health care services

Companies

Ramsay Health CareANZ Hospitals TopcoSt John of God Health Care

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PATIENT SEPARATIONAUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE (AIHW)INPATIENTOUTPATIENT

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 840 - Private General Hospitals in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Private general hospitals account for under one-third of all patient days of care, with this share falling in recent years. Growth in the number of patient days in private ho...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Acute care accounts for the lion’s share of private hospital separations. This proportion has increased further in recent years, with a corresponding fall in the number of re...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The location of private general hospitals mirrors the distribution of the general population. Australia's eastern seaboard states account for over three-quarters of all indus...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Price, quality of service and waiting times are key factors that determine private hospitals’ competitiveness. The Federal Government's MyHospitals website provides a platfor...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Both private for-profit hospital providers, and not-for-profit religious and charitable institutions operate private general hospitals. In some instances, private hospital pr...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Ramsay Health Care's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of ANZ Hospitals Topco's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of St John of God Health Care's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ramsay Health Care, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for ANZ Hospitals Topco, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for St John of God Health Care, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Non-government funding sources account for over two-thirds of all private hospital expenditure. This means changes in household disposable income and in the number of Austral...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

While private hospital providers are often for-profit enterprises, some providers, like UnitingCare and the Epworth Foundation, are run as not-for-profit organisations. This ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia is $24.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Private General Hospitals in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 19 businesses in the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Private General Hospitals market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Private General Hospitals market in Australia are Ramsay Health Care, ANZ Hospitals Topco and St John of God Health Care

What does the Private General Hospitals in Australia include?

Acute care involving surgery and Acute care services (other than surgical) are part of the Private General Hospitals industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Private General Hospitals in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Ramsay Health Care.

How competitive is the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Private General Hospitals industry in Australia.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.