Australian Healthcare System and the Challenge Brief

Foundations of Australian Healthcare System 1
AUSTRALIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE BRIEF
Name
Tutor
Institution
Date

Foundations of Australian Healthcare System 2
Challenge
A significant challenge affecting the Australian healthcare system is the growth in the elderly
population and the increase in chronic diseases among the people. According to de Carvalho
et al. (2017), as the population continues to age, they tend to experience more complex and
chronic health problems. They are also at risk of multi-morbidity, non-communicable health
problems, and sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. De Carvalho et al. (2017) the
essential barriers that prevent older people from accessing healthcare even in situations where
they are available to include the high cost of healthcare visits and transportation challenges.
Additionally, healthcare services often fail to consider the physical capacity limitations that
may affect older people. Ageist attitudes and long waiting times also prevent older people
from seeking medical services.
The access to healthcare services by the older population in Australia has significant
implications in the Australian healthcare system, particularly in the provision of the services
they need. There is a gap in the ability of the healthcare system to manage serious illnesses,
enhance the wellbeing and health, and support the elderly population to achieve dependency
(van Gaans & Dent, 2018). Therefore, there is a growing pressure on the healthcare system to
realize reforms that can promote increased access to older people within the community
settings who live with chronic healthcare conditions.
Proposed Solution
The challenge of accessibility of integrated healthcare services among the older people in
Australia can be addresses through the establishment of Centres Promoting Health
Independence that support. The centres can be established within the communities with the
highest population of older people, particularly in the rural areas where older people live. The
centres can be instrumental in coordinating and providing adequate information and care to
older people to reduce delays and promote a smooth continuum of care. They can also

Foundations of Australian Healthcare System 3
provide diagnostic and therapeutic care for older people to help them manage chronic
conditions.
Aspects of Australian Healthcare Systems
The Australian federal government has made efforts to enhance the integration of healthcare
services to increase access to older people within their community. For instance, it has
established the ‘ageing in place’ policy with a focus on maintaining the older people within
their community, while reducing the incidences of hospitalization, admission to care services
for the aged and morbidity. Consequently, the aged population can access support and live in
the places of their choice (van Gaans & Dent, 2018). However, the system has variously
attributed that influence the realization of integration and accessibility while addressing the
challenges affecting older people.
According to Dixit and Sambasivan (2018), the Australian healthcare system is experiencing
intense pressure arising from the increased changes in patients’ needs and expectations,
increased cost and demand for healthcare, the complexity of healthcare conditions, inequities
and the pressure for outcome improvements. The inefficiencies that affect the system include
workforce shortages, limited resources, and increased demand for healthcare. McPake and
Mahal (2017) explained that the Australian health system is characterized by two tiers which
include Medicare, a universal tier that is publicly funded, and a voluntary of subsidized health
insurance tier that covers `non-general practitioners and private hospital care. Primary care is
financed through Medicare and out of pocket payments from the consumers. Private health
insurance is restricted from funding primary care services. The system is also characterized
by an optional electronic healthcare record that aims to enable healthcare professionals to
access healthcare information and allow for consumers to share their knowledge with the
healthcare providers (Tomlinson 2019).
Implementation of Proposed Strategies