Common health and healthcare barriers

This article discusses the common barriers in healthcare facilities of the homeless people in Australia. Lack of economic support, health education, preventive measures, unhealthy lifestyle and environment are some of the major issues. The figures for health burden among Australians suggest that 65% of the diseases was due to 5 disease variants that included cancer, cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal diseases, mental and substance abuse disorders and injuries.

Running head: NURSING
Common health and healthcare barriers
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1
NURSING
Introduction-
The figures for health burden among Australians suggest that 65% of the diseases was
due to 5 disease variants that included cancer, cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal
diseases, mental and substance abuse disorders and injuries. Australia faces a major problem
in sector of health and healthcare facilities (Australian Government Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare, 2019).
They detect that the rising disease burden, disease patterns and chronic diseases poses
a threat on the disease profile of Australians. Other factors that can be foreseen as a barrier
include the problems of rising costs of healthcare facilities and medical devices, accessing the
healthcare facilities, and issues with workforce amount and delivery. The eminence and
security of the healthcare delivery process, balancing of the private and public sectors during
the funding procedure, and proper planning to create a dynamic and justifiable community
are some of the major issues regarding healthcare facilities of Australians. The health support
system for Indigenous Australians should be focused, and the fact must be recognized that
healthcare services, Medicare facilities will not solve these issues (Australian Government
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
Homelesness in Australians have elevated to 13.7% in the duration of 5 years, i.e, 50
out of 10,000 people are homeless. Due to this factor, the health related issues have increased
considerably among Australians (Homelessness Australia, 2019). The common barriers in
healthcare facilities of the homeless people include-

2
NURSING
Primary healthcare facility unavailable
Primary healthcare facility can be provided in the homeless population using
community services or through help of Governmental authorities or non-governmental
sections. Such basic facilities are not available for the homeless Australians.
Lack of economic support
The homeless people are economically weaker section, hence cannot bear the cost of
treatment, or medical facilities.
Lack of health education
The people have basic lack of knowledge about health and healthcare facilities, so
often report late about any diseases. Hence, diseases are detected at a later stage after
considerable progression of the disease.
Lack of preventive measures
Due to lack of knowledge, they do not undertake any prevention before progression of
a disease. Any precautionary measures are not taken.
Lifestyle and environment
This group of population have unhealthy and unhygienic lifestyle, like addiction to
tobacco. They also reside in a congested, overcrowded environment that adds to the problem
(Davis & Wood, 2019).

3
NURSING
Reference-
Australian Government Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Burden of
Diseases. Access Date: 10th August. [Online]. Retrieved from:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/burden-of-
disease/overview
Davies, A., & Wood, L. J. (2018). Homeless health care: meeting the challenges of providing
primary care. Medical Journal of Australia, 209(5), 230-234.
Homelessness Australia. (2019). Homelessness statistics. Access Date: 10th August. [Online].
Retrieved from: https://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/about/homelessness-
statistics