Bupa Expands Clinics and Genomics Plan in Australia

Bupa is building a network of 130 medical centres across Australia over the next three years to improve primary healthcare, but the move could further strain relationships with private hospitals already under financial pressure.

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Pick & Scroll News
May 14, 2025

Bupa is building a network of 130 medical centres across Australia over the next three years to improve primary healthcare, but the move could further strain relationships with private hospitals already under financial pressure. While aiming to modernise patient care and processing, the expansion is raising concerns about insurers gaining too much control in the healthcare system.


Right now, Bupa already owns more than 250 healthcare locations, including dental, optical and GP clinics. It wants to significantly grow that footprint by opening 40 new medical centres by year’s end, scaling up to 130 by 2027. This push comes as financial stress squeezes hospital operators and the role of health insurers in patient care is being hotly debated by government and industry.


Bupa says it wants to funnel 25–30% of its insurance claims through facilities it owns to better manage costs and offer more efficient care pathways. The group had a £914 million ($1.9 billion AUD) operating profit last year and it’s reinvesting in new technologies such as whole genome sequencing and AI-driven healthcare. Bupa is also expanding its mental health services and looking at partnerships, such as its new three-year deal with Ramsay Health Care.


While some healthcare providers worry Australia risks importing the insurer-led model used in the US, Bupa stresses it supports clinical independence and patient-centred care. Still, the insurer’s growing footprint adds pressure to a system where hospitals are losing revenue and calling for more financial backing.


Australia is Bupa’s largest market globally by health insurance revenue, accounting for 70% of its Asia Pacific business. Even with more than half the population already holding private cover, Bupa believes it can still outgrow the market every year. Its global plan focuses on using digital technology, preventative care and in-house managed services to improve long-term health outcomes, potentially transforming how care is delivered in Australia.