After-hours access to primary medical care will be extended as state and territory leaders meet to discuss improving health outcomes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is convening national cabinet in Brisbane to consider health, housing, the NDIS, skills and the transition to net-zero emissions.
Ahead of the meeting, the government announced it would extend funding for after-hours programs that were due to end in June.
Funding will also go towards new programs to improve access to primary care services.
The money will come out of the Strengthening Medicare fund, to which the government committed $750 million in its October budget.
Mr Albanese said he hoped the talks at national cabinet would lead to more efficient outcomes in the system.
"We're talking about a better future for the federation, making sure that we get better health outcomes, particularly how do we improve, from the commonwealth's perspective, GPs and primary health care in order to take pressure off the public hospital system," he said at the start of the meeting on Friday.
"We'll also talk about housing service delivery across the board in the lead up to our budget, which is now just less than two weeks away."
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said grants that would allow for doctors to stay open after hours would be strengthened.
"This money for after-hours services will support them to stay open," she told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday.
"We've got a big job to fix Medicare, there's no doubt about it, but we are committed to the task."
Health Minister Mark Butler said bolstering Medicare and rebuilding general practice were the government's priorities.
"Being able to access a doctor after hours is critical for patients to get what they need, when they need it, taking the pressure off hospitals," he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said his priority was ensuring people in his state had fast and free access to local GPs.
"We urgently need to pay GPs more so Victorians pay less, increase university places to get a pipeline of new doctors across the nation, attract GPs from overseas to Australia faster and break down the barriers between primary care and our hospital system," he said.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the Medicare system needed more support.
"Wrangling the state premiers has become a bit of a national sport," she told Seven's Sunrise program.
"People need access to doctors, and absolutely, that discussion today is a vital one. We do need to have our healthcare system back where it was."
Mr Albanese said he had already had constructive discussions with premiers and chief ministers.
It will be the first national cabinet meeting for newly elected NSW Premier Chris Minns and the last before the federal budget in May.
© AAP 2023