Australia's Health Status and Healthcare System Review
Current Health Status of Australians
Analyzing the current health status of Australians involves examining data from reports, tables, and graphs, such as Australia’s Health and other major health publications.
Data is collected from various sources to provide a sound understanding of the health of the nation and the effectiveness of the healthcare system, including:
Health service records, such as hospital admissions and records from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Surveys and population censuses: These include the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Drug Strategy Household Survey, Mission Australia’s Annual Youth Survey, and the National Health Survey.
The primary organizations responsible for gathering and interpreting health data within Australia are:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The role of these organizations is to provide valuable and reliable information that assists in establishing the direction of the healthcare system.
Gathering data over time helps establish a picture of how the health of Australians has changed, which assists in creating future projections.
Morbidity, Mortality, and Life Expectancy Trends
Morbidity: Defined as the trends in illness, injury, and disease in a population.
Mortality: Defined as deaths per people in a population.
National reports highlight major health issues affecting Australians, their prevalence, contributing risk factors, and the determinants that contribute to health outcomes. This data can be compared with other nations to understand where Australia fits in terms of international health status.
Top three major causes of morbidity for specific groups:
Males: Back problems, Anxiety, Deafness or hearing loss.
Females: Anxiety, Back problems, Depression.
General Population: Anxiety, Back problems, Depression.
Top three major causes of morbidity for different age groups:
to years: Anxiety, Asthma, Depression.
to years: Anxiety, Back problems, Depression.
to years: Back problems, Anxiety, Depression.
years and over: Hearing loss, Back problems, arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Life Expectancy: Defined as a measure of how long a person can be expected to live based on current age and death rates for their gender; specifically, the average number of years a person is expected to live.
As an indicator of overall population health, higher life expectancy generally correlates with better healthcare, better living conditions, and an improved quality of life.
Global and regional trends in life expectancy:
Life expectancy has increased over time.
Females generally live longer than males.
Increases over the last century are attributed to advancements in medicines, technology, infrastructure, and improvements in the understanding of the human body.
Sociological Causes of Risky Health Behaviours
Broad features of society that influence health behaviors include:
Social Relationships: These include peer pressure and family influence.
Culture: Includes beliefs, values, and traditions.
Media: Includes advertising and social media trends.
Government: Includes laws, policies, and health campaigns.
Identified risky health behaviors: Smoking/vaping, alcohol misuse (excessive drinking), illicit drug use, unsafe sexual behaviors, physical inactivity, poor nutrition/unhealthy diet, speeding (risky driving), and violence or aggressive behavior.
Impact of social relationships and interactions: Peer pressure from friends can encourage individuals to engage in risky health behaviors, such as vaping or drinking alcohol, in order to fit in or gain social acceptance.
Impact of Media: Social media and advertising can normalize risky health behaviors like vaping or excessive alcohol consumption, making them appear attractive or socially acceptable.
Impact of Culture: Cultural beliefs, values, and social norms can influence drinking habits, especially if such behaviors are viewed as normal or acceptable within a specific community.
Impact of Government: Laws, policies, and health campaigns aim to reduce risky behaviors and encourage healthier choices.
Health Inequities in Australia
Certain communities face higher barriers to health and wellbeing due to ongoing social, economic, and political disadvantages. These groups include:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (ATSIP).
People living in rural and remote areas.
Socio-economically disadvantaged people.
People living with disabilities.
Older people.
Reasons people experience inequities include poverty, unemployment, poor education, gender inequality, discrimination, drought, and lack of transport. This results in poor health, lower life expectancy, malnutrition, and higher unemployment.
Proposed solutions for addressing inequities:
Improving healthcare access: Governments can build hospitals and clinics, train doctors and nurses, and provide vaccines to make healthcare affordable. This ensures more people receive treatment regardless of income and increases life expectancy.
Example: Australia funds public hospitals and programs like Medicare to help people access healthcare regardless of their ability to afford private treatment.
Building schools: Higher education rates lead to improved literacy and skills, better employment opportunities, higher income, and a better quality of life. Building schools in rural communities provides children with the chance to complete their education.
Investing in infrastructure: Improvements in roads, bridges, electricity, internet, water supply, public transport, and sanitation systems help communities access hospitals, schools, and jobs more easily. Clean water and sanitation reduce the spread of disease, and better roads in remote areas allow faster access to hospitals.
Chronic Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Main types of CVD: Coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
Mortality trends in CVD:
Mortality is higher in lower socioeconomic status (SES) and remote areas due to reduced access to healthcare, delayed treatment, and a higher likelihood of risk factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have higher mortality rates due to greater exposure to risk factors, barriers to healthcare, and ongoing social and economic disadvantage.
Morbidity and Prevalence of CVD:
Approximately to of Australian adults live with one or more CVD conditions.
One in people over the age of are affected, as CVD risk increases with age.
Men have higher morbidity rates (\text{)}5.8\%.
Prevalence is generally higher among older Australians, men, and ATSIP groups due to biological risks and greater exposure to social, economic, and behavioral risk factors.
Incidence of CVD: There are approximately coronary events each day. High incidence is driven by modifiable risk factors (high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet) and non-modifiable risk factors (aging and family history).
Risk and Protective Factors:
Risk Factors: Smoking (damages blood vessels, increases clots, decreases oxygen), high blood pressure, overweight/obesity (increases blood pressure), age, physical inactivity, poor diet, and heredity (family history).
Protective Factors: Maintaining a healthy balanced diet, meeting physical activity guidelines, and having regular checks if there is a family history of CVD.
Demographic Trends in CVD:
Older Australians: Incidence increases with age.
Men: Greater prevalence of risk factors.
ATSIP: Rates are times higher than the general population.
CVD mortality has declined over time due to better prevention and early detection, though it remains a leading cause of death in Australia.
The Australian Healthcare System and Equity
The healthcare system is a mix of health professionals and service providers from government and non-government sectors. It includes primary healthcare, specialist services, hospitals, health promotion, health protection, and aged care services.
Public Hospitals: Funded by the Australian and state governments. They provide emergency services, are free under Medicare for public patients, and treat a higher volume of elderly patients and children.
Equity of access: The principle that everyone should have fair access to the healthcare they need, regardless of circumstances.
Key components of Australia's healthcare system:
Medicare: Australia’s national system providing subsidized healthcare services and free treatment in public hospitals.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS): Subsidizes the cost of certain prescription medicines to make them affordable.
Bulk Billing: A process where the doctor bills Medicare directly so the patient does not pay a consultation fee.
Barriers to healthcare access:
Cost (medical fees and medication costs).
Location (rural and remote areas face greater distances and difficulty traveling to appointments).
Availability (shortages of healthcare workers and fewer services in remote areas).
Future Opportunities and Strategies for Healthcare Improvement
Digital Healthcare: Future opportunities to improve quality, access, and equity include:
Telehealth and video consultations: Reduces the need for long-distance travel.
My Health Record: A digital record of a person’s health information accessible by authorized professionals, including medications, allergies, and test results.
The National Digital Health Strategy 2023-2028: Aims to create person-centered, inclusive, and equitable digital healthcare.
Cancer Screening Advancements: Self-collection of samples (e.g., for cervical and bowel cancer) increases participation and helps detect cancer earlier. The bowel cancer screening test kit allows people to collect and return a small sample from home for laboratory testing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthcare Improvements:
Addressing barriers: Lack of culturally safe care, mistrust due to historical racism, financial barriers, and transport difficulties.
Workforce increases: Increasing the number of ATSIP nurses and health workers facilitates trust and culturally appropriate care.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS): Health services controlled by the community designed around their specific needs. They provide GPs, nurses, and specialists in a culturally safe and community-led environment.
People with Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS):
The NDIS provides support and assistance to Australians with disabilities, making the system more accessible and user-friendly.
Digital health opportunities for people with disabilities include online consultations and digital health information.
The National Digital Health Strategy emphasizes making digital healthcare inclusive for those who may find certain services difficult to use digitally.
Example: NDIS support helps a person with a physical disability access specific equipment and services required to live more independently.