Medicare architect John Deeble has suggested a new way of funding healthcare as an alternative to charging patients to see the doctor: making business pay for medical certificates.

Professor Deeble, who co-wrote proposals that formed the basis of Medicare, suggested the certificates employers require to verify a worker's illness should be billed separately by Medicare, and the amount then recouped through a levy on business.

Professor John Deeble has an idea to boost health funding. Credit:Andrew Taylor

"It's got nothing to do with healthcare, so why not?" Professor Deeble said.

"The person who requires the medical certificate is the employer. The [sick] person doesn't want it. It is a service to business, because otherwise it would have to set up its own clinics, or they'd have to just accept their employees' word."