John Deeble, the “father of Medicare”, has died aged 87.

The Canberra-based professor co-authored with Dr Dick Scotton the original proposals for universal health insurance in Australia in 1968.

This work led to the establishment of Medicare in its original guise of Medibank during the term of the Whitlam government.

'Father of Medicare" Professor John Deeble. Credit:Robert Pearce

Professor Deeble was later closely involved as the architect of the reintroduction of universal healthcare in Australia, by then known as Medicare, in 1984.