Sky News host Alan Jones says someone is going to have to address the “health care quagmire” following the tragic death of 18-year-old Alex Braes.

“This is tragic beyond definition,” Mr Jones said.

“18-year-old Alex presented four times to the Broken Hill Hospital’s emergency department before anything happened, there is an inquest beginning today”.

“The young man allegedly died from an infected toenail.”

Mr Jones said this surely is the “epitome of systemic failure”.

“But Broken Hill Hospital isn’t alone, many families believe that their best option in health care is to take out private health insurance,” he said.

“But health fund premiums have gone up by 15.5 per cent this month alone, many of the top insurance products cost up to $800 a month – now anything at $800 a month for private health care is unaffordable”.

“There are 104,000 health fund policies, a massive disparity in premiums”.

“Someone is going to have to address this health care quagmire.”