NUR3101 - Global Primary Health Care: Australian Strategy Analysis

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Australia's primary health care strategies within a global context, focusing on key areas such as improving access and reducing inequity. It explores the determinants of health, including equity and social justice, and their impact on primary health care delivery. The essay also examines epidemiological factors, such as geographical barriers, economic background, and racial discrimination, and their influence on accessibility to healthcare services. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of these strategies to nursing practice, emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of nursing professionals in advocating for equitable access to care. The analysis is conducted with reflection on the WHO five key principles of Primary Health Care. The essay concludes by underscoring the importance of enhancing accessibility and reducing inequity in primary health care to improve the overall health status of the nation.

Running head: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Primary Health Care in a Global Context
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Table of Contents
Introduction:..............................................................................................................................2
Chosen key strategy in Primary Health Care:............................................................................2
Determinants of health such as equity and social justice:.........................................................3
Epidemiological factors and its impact:....................................................................................4
Significance to Nursing Practice:..............................................................................................4
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................5
References:................................................................................................................................6

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Introduction:
Primary care can be considered as one of the greatest elements associated with public
health care delivery and along with that, the providing primary health care can be considered as
one of the most fundamental needs of the population. Primary health care is the first point of
contact for the patients and hence, it is very important for a nation to have a detailed primary
health care strategies to address the different primary health care needs or issues that the
community or region is facing (Neutens, 2015). Australia is a nation that has set an admirable
example for others by developing detailed and extensive primary health care strategy with
priority areas focused on the particular public health priorities of the nation. This essay will
attempt to explore and evaluate one of the key current strategies in the primary health care
context addressing one particular national health priority issues in the nation
Chosen key strategy in Primary Health Care:
One of the greatest challenge or need facing the primary health care network of the
Australian demographics had been the ensuring equal accessibility of health care services for all
of the individuals across the socio-economic or cultural status. As mentioned by authors, there
have been a variety of different determinants of heath that play a fundamental role in facilitating
an array of disparities or inequities in the health care accessibility and quality based on the socio-
economic status, racial or cultural identity, ethnicity and even sexual orientation. Hence, the
second key current strategy for the primary health care framework by Australian government had
been “Improve access and reduce inequity” (aihw.gov.au, 2018). The primary aim of this
strategic area is to provide primary health care delivery via an integrated service system

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delivered care across the country with high quality and addressing the service gaps that have
been left behind.
Determinants of health such as equity and social justice:
The health status of a particular individual or a community depends heavily on the impact
of different social determinants of health; these determinants of health includes race, ethnicity,
social exclusion, culture, employment, equity, early life, socioeconomic position, social justice
and housing. It has to be mentioned that despite the commendable improvement in the Australian
health care sector, there still are population groups that do not get the opportunity to access
quality primary care. Hence, the determinants of equity and justice has a massive role in the
delivery and status of the primary health care in the chosen community (Dilworth-Anderson,
Pierre & Hilliard, 2012). Exploring further health equity refers to the equal accessibility and
quality of care provided with no evidence of disparities present in the controllable aspects of
health allowing each and every member of the society to gain equal treatment. On the other hand,
the concept of social justice with respect to health is associated with fair treatment made
available to all members of the society. Social justice extends to education, wealth, opportunities,
and access. It has to be mentioned that the impact of the social position, socio-economic status,
racial or cultural background, ethnicity and even sexual orientation has a significant impact on
the social justice, altering the educational and financial position which in turn controls the
accessibility to social privileges. This key strategic action attempts to improve the impact of this
lack of equity and social justice in the health care access and build model health frameworks that
improves health literacy across different populations and enhance equal access for all members
of the community (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014).

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Epidemiological factors and its impact:
There are a number of different epidemiological factors associated with the chosen
primary health care area. First and foremost, the most of the inaccessibility and inequity to
primary care services have been identified in the rural and remote regions of the nation. Hence
the geographical barrier is one considerable epidemiological factor; this primary care strategy
attempts to enhance the availability of the GP practices and encourage the long term relationship
between the consumer and the GP to ensure equal and timely care provided. Economic
background or financial stability across different social settings is another key epidemiological
variable which has a huge impact on accessibility (healthypeople.gov, 2018). The primary care
strategy has helped in improving the afterhours care ratio and enhancing the scope of practice if
the GPs along with strengthening the funding system so that all members can access at least the
first point of care equally. Lastly, the impact of racial and cultural discrimination has to be
discussed as a key epidemiological influence. The aboriginals or other ethnic minority groups
have faced severe discrimination and lack of basic social privilege such as education, wealth,
employment opportunities and most importantly health. The priority actions also include training
and skill development of the primary health are staff especially the GPs to enhance the cultural
safety and appropriateness of the care provided so enhance easy accessibility and help-seeking
behavior across all sectors of the society including the minorities (health.gov.au, 2018).
Significance to Nursing Practice:
According to the key principles of primary health care by WHO, universal access to care
coverage is one of the most fundamental one. Similarly according to the second principles of
care, equity is a significant component associated with the development of the health care

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services oriented with social justice (who.int, 2018). Hence, it is crucial for the health care
sectors of the nation to have an extensive strategy to address the lack of equality and
accessibility. The importance of this is extreme to nursing practice as primary health care is also
intricately associated with the nursing care. The nursing professionals will therefore need to
modify their practice scope and approach as well to incorporate enhanced equity and
accessibility of primary care. Along with that, the roles and responsibilities of the nursing
workforce extends to advocating the accessibility and equity needs of the patients across
different socio-cultural groups.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, primary health care is the first point of contact with the health
sector with the patients and for the health status of the nation to improve across populations, it is
imperative for the national primary health care strategies to focus on enhancing the accessibility
of the services and reducing the prevalence of inequity. This paper had been successful in
determining the impact of equity, social justice and epidemiological factors on the present state
and how the strategy attempts to bridge the service gaps with respect to key principles of primary
health care.

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References:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018). Australia's health 2016, Chapter 4
Determinants of health - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. [online] Available
at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2016/contents/
determinants [Accessed 12 Aug. 2018].
Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: it's time to consider the
causes of the causes. Public health reports, 129(1_suppl2), 19-31.
Department of Health | Primary care. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/primarycare
Department of Health | Strategic Outcome 2: Improve access and reduce inequity. (2018).
Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/
NPHC-Strategic-Framework~strategicoutcome2
Determinants of Health | Healthy People 2020. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Determinants-of-
Health
Dilworth-Anderson, P., Pierre, G., & Hilliard, T. S. (2012). Social justice, health disparities, and
culture in the care of the elderly.

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Neutens, T. (2015). Accessibility, equity and health care: review and research directions for
transport geographers. Journal of Transport Geography, 43, 14-27.
WHO | Chapter 7: Health Systems: principled integrated care. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/whr/2003/chapter7/en/index1.html
WHO | Health and social justice. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/89/1/10-082388/en/