Department of Health

Nationally Funded Centres Program

Key messages

  • Nationally Funded Centres (NFCs) give Australians access to certain high-cost, low-volume health technologies.
  • The NFC Program is transitioning from block funding to activity-based funding.

The Nationally Funded Centres (NFC) Program provides all Australians with equitable access to certain high-cost, low-volume technologies and procedures.

The Health Chiefs Executive Forum oversees all aspects of the NFC Program and associated policy.

The NFC Program is transitioning from block funding to activity-based funding (ABF) in coming years*.

Current provision of NFCs

NFC programs are funded from a pool, with contributions from all states and territories according to a population-based formula.

The current NFC programs and Victorian hosting agencies are:

  • Paediatric heart transplantation – The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH).
  • Paediatric liver transplantation – RCH (supported by Austin Hospital).
  • Paediatric lung and heart-lung transplantation – The Alfred (supported by RCH).
  • Adult pancreas transplantation – Monash Medial Centre Clayton.
  • Adult islet cell transplantation – St. Vincent’s Hospital (supported by St. Vincent’s Institute).

Future of NFCs

In 2018 the Council of Australian Governments' Health Council agreed to dissolve the NFC Program and transition current block funding to ABF.

This transition will occur over coming years. Until such time, the current policy, funding and activity will continue.

Transition to ABF will be informed by formal reviews of all NFCs and costing analyses by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, about which all NFC providers will be consulted.

NFC reviews have commenced and are expected to be staggered across 2022 and 2023.

Reviewed 11 August 2022

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Health Technology Program

50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Phone +61 3 9096 2142
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