Hierarchy and Power in the Australian Healthcare System: A Sociological Perspective

This paper discusses the impact of hierarchy and power in the Australian healthcare system, drawing on sociological theories and concepts. It also explores the implications of these factors for health practitioners. The paper highlights the biomedical model and its assumptions, and the different dimensions of power. It also examines the Australian healthcare system and the implications of hierarchy and power on funding and national health reform.

Running Head: Health Sociology 1
Hierarchy and power are intrinsic to the current health care system in Australia. Discuss
this statement by drawing on sociological theories and concepts. Discuss how this may impact
on you as a health practitioner.
University Affiliation
Student Name
Surname: Initial: Unit Code: Assignment Name: Health Sociology

Running Head: Health Sociology 2
Introduction.
This paper will highlight aspects of hierarchy and power that are fundamental in the
Australian Healthcare system. It will extrapolate from sociological theories and models. The
implications of hierarchy and power in the Australian healthcare system. The paper will also
address the implication of all these to me as a medical practitioner. It is essential to understand
the definition of the terms that are in use throughout the paper (Burau & Fenton 2011).
Sociology is the study of how humans behave. It includes aspects of human society such as their
culture, relationships, and patterns. Hierarchy is how society categorizes their people due to
their authority through economic or political ranks. Power is the capacity to steer people's ideas
or the occurrence of events.
Sociological Perspectives
Sociology includes aspects that directly influence the healthcare system across the
world. We have to understand the concepts of its embodiment in healthcare. Social
stratification in this perspective talks about the different social classes that have differentiated
individuals in the society. Social classes are brought about by inequality in the allocation of
resources. Resources are the focal point of any societies' growth and development healthcare
interventions (Germov, 2014). The lack thereof of a segment of the populace of these resources
shows decreases their opportunity to better healthcare. Perspectives on social stratification
from different researchers will assist to understand. It is essential for every individual to
exercise regularly to avoid being obese. Parents who have children should ensure that they are
under a balanced diet to avoid being malnourished (Karlsen, 2012). The choice of fast food
restaurants instead of organic foods should not be a preference for anyone's lifestyle. Cultures
and behaviors of different social groups define the health repercussions of the group. Cultures
are prolonged behaviors, and they are deeply embedded in people's everyday life (Evans,
2013). For example, countries that experience more winter months tend to have a populace of
smokers. These residents while likely have a higher rate of suffering from oral and lung cancer.
They would, therefore, need adequate and quality health care on these areas. Inequalities in
healthcare due to behaviors is highly dependable on the lifestyles embraced. It is essential for
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every individual to exercise regularly to avoid being obese. Parents who have children should
ensure that they are under a balanced diet to avoid being malnourished. The choice of fast food
restaurants instead of organic foods should not be a preference for anyone's lifestyle.
Physical health in social stratification and health care addresses how different people
are affected by factors such as housing and their place of residence. Poor people have the
terrible housing conditions which are not safe for their physical health. Bad houses that are not
proper roofed or adequately insulated for all seasons are not advisable. Diseases like fever and
pneumonia have been majorly caused by extreme exposure to cold. Poor working conditions
where machine operators are not provided with protective kits as required by their profession
causes injuries (Harrison, 2017). On the contrary, individuals who have better housing and
better working conditions due to their place in society are considered to be in a position to
avoid these harmful inequalities.
Biomedical Model
A biomedical model is a concept of using biological methods to provide treatment for
full recovery. This model generally highlights the medicinal forms of treatment. It encompasses
the use of medical practitioners such as doctors, surgeons, midwives, and nurses to ensure that
a patient is treated (Schofield and Berti, 2015). This model has its basis in some fundamental
assumptions. The first is that the normal state of a human being is when he/she is without
illnesses. It assumes that any sickness or disease is a deformity that needs addressing. It,
therefore, bases its arguments on the feelings that the body undergoes. The sense of pain or
discomfort should not occur. For example, stomach upsets due to amoeba make the body not
function properly biologically (Kuhlmann & Burau 2015). The second assumption has its
foundations in the theory of specific etiology. This theory states that one particular identifiable
agent causes every disease. The recognizing of these agents and knowing them resolves the
problem. The approach has been beneficial for the studies of genetic complexity. The third
assumption is generic diseases. This assumption has its foundation on the facts that generic
diseases are not influenced by other factors such as historical or cultural. The symptoms and
the stages of these diseases remain constant. The fourth assumption is the scientific neutrality
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of medicine. Medical practitioners use this assumption due to the way they see themselves as
scientists and medicine as the science.
The assumption claim that the process is completely unbiased and that there are no
other factors that influence their objectivity in medicine. The procedures are universal and
neutral. The biomedical model has developed over time, and it gained dominance in the 1940's
as the preferred model (Marcarelli, 2016). Although other social and economic factors have
always been considered to affect the model, its processes have provided for its credibility. Its
growth has been a consistent process of research and outcomes. As a model that has seen
technological advancements of creating structures and equipment to address different medical
conditions. There have been preventive measures like the introduction of vaccinations of polio
and measles for example. This model has gained prestige due to its treatment orientation. The
investments and undertakings for development have yielded results (Rothgang, Schmid and
Wendt, 2011). Currently, medical facilities are all over Australia and the world. Medical
research centers such as the Center for Disease Control have been put to address pandemic
outbreaks and terminal diseases. Hospitals are in use for practical education after classwork for
students taking medical courses. Laboratories and therapeutic centers that have been set up
rely solely on the biomedical model.
Hierarchy and Power
A hierarchy has several means of describing it. The definition at the beginning of this
paper, it is seen as a way in which societies categorize authority. Politics play a crucial role in
the administration of every nation. Whereas power is mainly concerned with peoples' idea, the
two work together. Power is embedded in a hierarchy meaning that the higher the hierarchical
ladder, the more amassed power the individual(s) has. Competing interests in any society are
due to the distribution of scarce resources. These resources are diverse, and healthcare is a
critical component in the delivery. To understand how power works, we need to extrapolate on
its three dimensions. The first dimension is where the conflict is open and noticeable. This is
seen in cases of serious conflicts. The second dimension of power is when the conflict is
covered (Molina‐Mula & De Pedro‐Gómez 2013). This is done when those in power make sure
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that those they are in conflict with do not get a say in the resolving process. This works well
when for example an issue has been raised to the Senate and a committee is formed to address
it without taking insights from the public. When this is done, those who are affected by the
conflict do not get their views heard. Those in power, in this case, the committee members
choose their interests at the expense of others. The third is the use of those in power to shape
their ideas, tastes, choices, and preferences (Kuhlman and Burau, 2015). In this case, those in
power openly focus on their interests while others are not noticing.
An example of this is the use of social media for political gain or financial. Until people
provoked, they would never know what has happened. It leaves those in power protecting their
interests. While relating power to health, it is important to note that those in authority make
choices on matters of health. In every state, health policies are vital for the oversight and
implementation of healthcare. These policies are drafted by lawmakers and members of
Congress who debate it in the house before it is approved or declined. It means that the
decisions will hugely rely on the social, political or economic situation of a state (Roberts, 2012).
The downside of this is that the interests of those in power might not necessarily be overall
good interests. In the case of health insurance, those with vested interests are in it for financial
gain. It means that health insurance rate at offered at exorbitant packages. These rates end up
benefitting a minority group that is in power. This hierarchy is the same in the medical
profession. The medical dominance with regards to their level of study is highlighted in this
research. Doctors who are in positions of power are mandated to make decisions that influence
healthcare (Karlsen, 2012). In Australia, this is also experienced and those in private practice set
monetary standards for the services that they offer. Despite the government having
standardized fees for different illnesses this does not stop the private sector from setting their
own.
The Australian Healthcare System
Australia has diverse healthcare systems that are founded on two important scales
which are selective-universal coverage and public-private provision. The universal coverage is
founded on the idea of socialism where the state caters to the collective healthcare of its
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citizens. This is then financially achieved through taxes from citizens (Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare, 2013). The second is the private provision which is mainly founded on the
economic and financial tenets. This solely relies on the economic liberty of individuals who
choose to cater to their bills. They attend private healthcare facilities for general or specialized
treatment (Rodon & Silva 2015). They, therefore, seek the services of private insurance firms.
These two different spectrums have shaped the perception and current situation of health care
in Australia.
Implications to the Australian Healthcare System
Hierarchy and power have played both constructive and destructive roles in the
Australian Healthcare system. Regarding funding, the three tiers of government have played
different roles. While taking an example of the healthcare funds sources in 2012, 44% of the
funds have their origins from the Commonwealth government. It was the most significant
contributor due to the collection of taxes and from the Medicare levy charged on those that
have packages. This, however, is not levied the same across all Australian citizens. Those with
average pay have their taxes at 1.5 percent of their taxable income. The state is also
responsible for managing more aspects of health than any other tier. These areas include public
health services that include dental, mental, psychiatric and child health. The local government
is responsible for environmental and other preventive roles (Rothgang, Schmid, & Wendt,
2011). These implications are between the private and public segmentation of responsibilities.
In 2012, approximately 30% of the national funds came from the private sector. Collecting of
the federal funds is through insurance schemes both from hospitals and motor vehicles and
cash that was given to facilities. The private sector also champions for more constructive of the
provision of comprehensive healthcare services (Health Workforce Australia, 2012). In 2004,
politicians took a central role in favoring the private sector under the leadership of John
Howard, the then Prime Minister. They reformed changed Medicare and amended a few
clauses to enable the privatization agenda was a success. It was in line with their ideology. This
Coalition government ensured that they changed health care from a socialist perspective to an
economic one. The socialist perspective was to mean that only the individuals that could not
afford health care would be the ones that the state would pay for their covers. Those that could
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Running Head: Health Sociology 7
afford it needed to fund it themselves (Kuhlmann & Burau 2015). Health is a universal facet of
survival of the human species and not an economic categorization. In 2007, the Labour
Government took a different approach to make the system to appear equal and balanced
through rechecking the remissions.
Issues that arose in Australia brought the need for national health reform. The
Australian healthcare system with matters like the public and private divisions, unexpected
outcomes from the policies put together and the different funds sharing rationale between the
state and local governments. In 2009 the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
was formed through the joint of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. This report
aimed to ensure that the universal aspects of healthcare are given the priority. It was expected
to ensure that those accessing public facilities still got free services. This reform identified three
objectives to address and provide recommendations. They included; the securing of the
sustainability of the health system by making it more self-improving, the ensuring the
repositioning of the system to address emerging issues and lastly to tackle equity and
accessibility for all to health care (Burau & Fenton 2011). Power is seen changing the course of
the reforms in the year 2010. Change of the leadership of government from the then prime
minister Kevin Rudd to Julia Gillard led to the modification of the recommendations of the
reforms.
Conclusion
Hierarchy and power are essential to the full realization of primary health care. It is,
however, essential to know that guidance and moderation for the use of these factors are vital
to steer healthcare in Australia in the right direction (Belcher, 2014). The purpose of the
biomedical model as the leading model in healthcare has necessitated for the address of
emerging issues that have come with it. Medical practitioners need to embrace best practices,
and those in the positions of authority need to prioritize the interests of better healthcare. The
local and commonwealth government should come to an understanding that will see cheap
insurance packages for the citizens. Harmonious coordination of the two forms of government
will lead to better resource allocation and better steering of healthcare interests (Evans, 2013).
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Politicians in their quest for furthering their interests should ensure that those of the health
care system is not left out. Recommendations for the solution to the Australian healthcare
system would include embracing equity to accessibility to every citizen irrespective of their
financial capabilities. The recommendations of the health reform should be implemented to
adhere to the universal healthcare principles.
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