Australia has the third and seventh highest life expectancy of males and females respectively in the world.[275] Life expectancy in Australia in 2010 was 79.5 years for males and 84.0 years for females.[276] Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world,[277] while cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease, responsible for 7.8% of the total mortality and disease. Ranked second in preventable causes is hypertension at 7.6%, with obesity third at 7.5%.[278][279] Australia ranks 35th in the world[280] and near the top of developed nations for its proportion of obese adults [281] and nearly two thirds (63%) of its adult population is either overweight or obese.[282]
Total expenditure on health (including private sector spending) is around 9.8% of GDP.[283] Australia introduced universal health care in 1975.[284] Known as Medicare, it is now nominally funded by an income tax surcharge known as the Medicare levy, currently set at 1.5%.[285] The states manage hospitals and attached outpatient services, while the Commonwealth funds the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (subsidising the costs of medicines) and general practice.[284]