The Albanese Labor Government has pledged to invest $644 million to open an additional 50 free Medicare urgent care clinics across the country, if re-elected.

The government has already opened 87 urgent care clinics, which operate on a walk-in basis and offer fully-bulk-billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, aiming to reduce the load on hospital emergency departments.

Under the plan, New South Wales (14), Victoria (12), and Queensland (10), will receive the biggest boost in clinics, which would open during the 2025-26 financial year.

Once all clinics are up and running, 4 in 5 Australians will live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Clinics, according to Department of Health and Aged Care analysis.

The government says around two million Australians are expected to use an urgent care clinic each year.

“Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing healthcare, under Labor, Medicare will be there for all Australians, in every community,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Locations of the additional 50 Medicare urgent care clinics, determined by geographic area, can be found here