By Kat Wong in Sydney

Australians could soon access free, expert health advice at all hours of the day, as Labor champions Medicare in one of its final campaign pushes.

If his party is re-elected, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will commit $204.5 million to launch 1800MEDICARE, a 24/7 nationwide health advice and after-hours GP telehealth service backed by Medicare.

From January 1, Australians who call the number will be connected to a registered nurse who can provide advice or refer them to another health service.

Anyone who needs urgent GP care for something like an emergency prescription or treatment for a short-term illness or injury, can be connected to a free telehealth consultation with a GP between 6pm and 8am.

This could prevent an estimated 250,000 Australians from making an unnecessary trip to an emergency department per year, which Mr Albanese said would take pressure off people and public hospitals.

“Trained, expert advice is just at the other end of the phone,” he will say in an address on Sunday.

“1800MEDICARE will bring new security and peace of mind to people all over Australia.”

The prime minister is expected to announce the promise at a Labor rally in Western Sydney on Sunday before he and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton return to the debate stage for their final showdown of the campaign.

Since Mr Albanese fired the starter’s gun on the May 3 election, health policy and Medicare have been his top priority.

Labor has already announced a $8.5 billion commitment to boost bulk-billing and increase the health workforce and $1 billion for mental health services, while promising to build 50 more urgent care clinics.

And Mr Albanese hasn’t let voters forget, having brandished his Medicare card on at least eight occasions and touring five urgent care clinics since calling the election.

US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals have also been used by Labor to underscore the importance of Australia’s health system.

“American-style healthcare is decided by what treatment you can afford,” Mr Albanese will say.

“In Australia, under Labor, it’s about the care you need.

“We built it, we will protect it and strengthen it.”

Most Australians could not name a policy from either major party they believed would improve their life, according to new polling commissioned by AAP and modelled by YouGov.

But of the 32 per cent who could, most pointed to Labor’s health policies.

The prime minister on Saturday afternoon also visited his home electorate in Sydney’s inner west as he committed $10 million to the Reverend Bill Crews Foundation, which supports vulnerable Australians by offering free meals, welfare support and literacy programs.