Policy Review for Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Australia

The study emphasizes on the policy review related to the prevention of the chronic diseases and recommendations on the best option. The new policy will provide three major objectives that are identified here are targeting the priority populations; provide appropriate, effective and efficient care in order to support the people that are suffering from the chronic conditions and it will lead to optimize the quality of life; focus on the prevention strategies that will lead to healthier Australia.

Running head: HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Health Policy and Advocacy
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Table of Contents
Knowledge and understanding of the health problem.....................................................................2
Analysis of the problem and frameworks for understanding the problem......................................3
Alternative policy options to deal with the problem.......................................................................5
Policy recommendations..................................................................................................................6
Assessment of the effectiveness of the policy.................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The Australian health care system is contributed by both the State and the federal
government funding and is the solely responsible for the healthcare sector. Thus, making it
difficult for the patients to navigate in between. Even though there are complexities, the
universal healthcare system of Australia achieves a comparatively good result in an efficient
way. As per the OECD average, the healthcare spending is Australia is about 8.8 percent of the
GDP. The Life expectancy ranks sixth among all the OECD counties and it is 83 years.
However, there are challenges in the rising chronic diseases and the Australian Healthcare
system must act to improve through a balanced coordination with the patient care. There is a
growing burden of rising from the chronic diseases (Oecd.org, 2018). The study will emphasize
on the policy review related to the prevention of the chronic diseases and recommendations on
the best option. This study will be aimed towards the governmental policy makers and the others
that are willing to formulate and influence policy.
Knowledge and understanding of the health problem
Chronic diseases have the persistent effects and long-lasting conditions. The economic
and the social conditions have the consequences that can impact the quality of life of the patients.
It is important to highlight that the chronic conditions are gaining priority in the healthcare sector
and is a major priority for action. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported 8 major
groups of chronic diseases and it includes the mental health conditions, diabetes, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, back pain, asthma and arthritis.
The highlighting facts are as follows:

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 In the year 2013-2014, 39 percent and above of the preventable diseases are due
to the chronic diseases that are preventable.
 About 30 percent of the problems that are managed in the general practice in the
year 2014-2015 is actually associated with the 8 chronic diseases.
 In the year 2014-2015, more than 11 million of the Australians (which is 50
percent of the Australians) have reported to be having 1 out of the 8 chronic
diseases.
 The people that are aged 65 years (87%) and above have reported to be suffering
from 1 out of the 8 chronic diseases in the year 2014-2015 in comparison to the
35 percent of the people that are aged between 0 to 44 years of age.
 73 percent of the deaths that have occurred in the year 2013 is due to the 8
chronic diseases (aihw.gov.au, 2018).
Analysis of the problem and frameworks for understanding the problem
Chronic disease conditions are the rising causes of death, disability and illness among the
Australians. The main issue is that the chronic disease conditions and the causes of the diseases
are the biggest challenges for the Australian healthcare system. Along with the aged population,
the rising cost of treatments and pharmaceuticals from the rising chronic disease conditions have
led to an unprecedented strain within the Australian Healthcare system (Health.gov.au, 2018a).
Framework: the framework used here is a Policy triangle analysis. The triangle is a
simplified representation of the complex set of inter-relationships and the 4 factors are
considered separately. The four major factors here are: context, process, content, and Actors
(organizations, groups and individuals) (Buse, Mays & Walt, 2012).

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 Actors- actors are the one that make and influence the policy. Similarly, the
Australian Health department, Australian Government are the major actors here.
 Context- The contextual factors that affect the policy and such factors include the
international, national, regional, local, social, economic and political factors that
will affect the health policy. The several factors that have contributed to the rising
conditions of the chronic disease are the feelings of disengagement, frustration
and disempowerment; difficulties in accessing the services like the remoteness
barriers, financial barriers, language barriers, transport and mobility barriers; low
uptake of the digital health and other technology provided by the healthcare
providers; delayed, absent and service duplication; uncoordinated care; and
fragmented system with the services and providers working in isolation
(Health.gov.au, 2018a).
 Process- It involves the processes that through which policies are framed. In order
to prevent the chronic diseases like, Type 2 diabetes, lung disease, chronic kidney
disease, stroke and heart failure and heart disease, the Australian government put
forwards several strategies and policies that include the National Chronic Disease
strategy (NCDS) (Wutzke et al., 2017).
Issues with the existing policy- The major problems identified with the National Chronic
Disease strategy (NCDS) is the lacked the implementation plans, infrastructure commitments and
the funding commitments. Whereas the other major items that lacked is the lack of partnerships
among the governments, national alignment to the strategies, and proper leadership and
coordination (Health.gov.au, 2018b).

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The key stakeholders in the involved problem- patients and their care givers along with
the family members, patients with the chronic conditions, community members, consumer
representatives, industry, researchers, academics, health professionals, clinical experts. Non-
governmental organizations, peak bodies, territory and state governments (Health.gov.au,
2018b).
Alternative policy options to deal with the problem
An alternative policy option will be called National Strategic Framework for Chronic
conditions. This policy will be based on the principles of equity, collaboration, partnerships,
access to high standards of healthcare, evidence-based care, person centered approaches,
sustainability of the strategic planning process, transparency and accountability regarding
decisions and responsibilities, shared responsibilities among all the parties involved
(Health.gov.au, 2018c).
Enablers: The role of the enablers is identified and it will assist in achieving the targets
and the vision of the policy. The enablers will take necessary actions and steps towards the risk
of development of chronic diseases. The enablers will comprise of resources, technology,
research, health literacy, health workforce, governance and leadership.
Objectives: The three major objectives that are identified here are: 1) targeting the
priority populations, 2) provide appropriate, effective and efficient care in order to support the
people that are suffering from the chronic conditions and it will lead to optimize the quality of
life, 3) focus on the prevention strategies that will lead to healthier Australia.
Strategic priority areas: The strategic priority areas identified for this policy are as
follows:

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Objective 1 will focus on the prevention of health risks and focus on healthier Australia.
 Appropriate detection and timely intervention plan
 Special emphasis on the life stages that are critical.
 Reduction of risks and promotion of the health (Health.gov.au, 2018c).
Objective 2 will focus on providing the appropriate, effective, efficient care to support
people that are suffering from chronic conditions.
 Supportive systems
 Information sharing
 Health services made accessible
 Active engagement
 Continuity of care
Objective 3 will focus on the targeted populations
 Empowerment and speedy action
 Health of Aboriginal and Torres strait islander (Health.gov.au, 2018c)
Policy recommendations
 Health promotion in a coordinated and consistent way will positively make an
impact on the behavioral choices.
 Targeted education and health messages so that the policy can meet the policy
needs.

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 The health workforce must be equipped adequately so that it can deliver the
healthcare in a holistic way so that health risks can be managed and prevented in a
chronic condition (Vogelmeier et al., 2017).
 For the effective preventive measures related to health, the researchers will play a
major role in building the evidence.
 Partners must collaborate together to build on a common goal of creating a
environment that will promote health.
 Clearer governance and clearer leadership will both be responsible and support
the decision-making process that will be existing within the partners (Bauer et al.,
2014).
Assessment of the effectiveness of the policy
The effectiveness of the policy will can be assessed by analyzing the following
indicators:
 Reduction in the screening rates of the bowel, cervical and breast cancer.
 The eligible persons are receiving the counselling and drug therapy to prevent
stroke and heart attacks.
 The rates of immunization will increase among the children.
 Reduced prevalence of the chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, cancers,
cardiovascular diseases by the age group (Ichiho & Aitaoto, 2013).
 People with the mental illness, diabetes and asthma are integrated with the care
plan.
 Reduced mortality between the age group of 30 to 70 years from the chronic
respiratory diseases, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

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 Reduced rates of alcohol related mortality and morbidity among the adults and the
adolescents (Lim et al., 2012).
Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be concluded that the Chronic diseases have the
persistent effects and long-lasting conditions. The economic and the social conditions have the
consequences that can impact the quality of life of the patients. Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare reported 8 major groups of chronic diseases and it includes the mental health conditions,
diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, back pain,
asthma and arthritis. The new policy will provide three major objectives that are identified here
are targeting the priority populations; provide appropriate, effective and efficient care in order to
support the people that are suffering from the chronic conditions and it will lead to optimize the
quality of life; focus on the prevention strategies that will lead to healthier Australia.

9HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY
References
aihw.gov.au (2018). Chronic disease Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
[online] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Available at:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-
disease/overview [Accessed 19 Oct. 2018].
Bauer, U. E., Briss, P. A., Goodman, R. A., & Bowman, B. A. (2014). Prevention of chronic
disease in the 21st century: elimination of the leading preventable causes of premature
death and disability in the USA. The Lancet, 384(9937), 45-52.
Buse, K., Mays, N., & Walt, G. (2012). Making health policy. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Health.gov.au. (2018a). Department of Health | National Strategic Framework for Chronic
Conditions. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/nsfcc
Health.gov.au. (2018b). Department of Health | Historical documents. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/pq-ncds
Health.gov.au. (2018c). National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions. Retrieved from
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/A0F1B6D61796CF3DC
A257E4D001AD4C4/$File/National%20Strategic%20Framework%20for%20Chronic
%20Conditions.pdf
Ichiho, H. M., & Aitaoto, N. (2013). Assessing the system of services for chronic diseases
prevention and control in the US-affiliated Pacific Islands: Introduction and
methods. Hawai'i Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 72(5 Suppl 1), 5.

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Lim, S. S., Vos, T., Flaxman, A. D., Danaei, G., Shibuya, K., Adair-Rohani, H., ... & Aryee, M.
(2012). A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67
risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for
the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The lancet, 380(9859), 2224-2260.
Oecd.org. (2018). OECD Health overview policy: Health policy in Australia. Retrieved from
http://www.oecd.org/australia/Health-Policy-in-Australia-December-2015.pdf
Vogelmeier, C. F., Criner, G. J., Martinez, F. J., Anzueto, A., Barnes, P. J., Bourbeau, J., ... &
Frith, P. (2017). Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of
chronic obstructive lung disease 2017 report. GOLD executive summary. American
journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 195(5), 557-582.
Wutzke, S., Morrice, E., Benton, M., & Wilson, A. (2017). What will it take to improve
prevention of chronic diseases in Australia? A case study of two national
approaches. Australian Health Review, 41(2), 176-181.