27 August 2017 - The NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, says the prices of surgically implanted devices like artificial knees, hips and pacemakers remain "excessive", and he has pledged to drive more competition in the sector to stem private health insurance premium rises.

In February, the federal government made cuts of about $86 million a year over five years for 2,400 medical devices, with private health insurers pledging to pass the savings onto customers.

But Mr Hazzard told the The Australian Financial Review the states and the federal government must continue to collaborate to ensure health insurance is cheaper for consumers.

Read Australian Financial Review article