The Australian Health care system is founded on the concept of equity Essay

The Australian Health care system is founded on the concept of equity of access. Discuss this statement with relation to the con - Essay Example (Braveman, 2003). Identification of those people can be made through the use of census data using the criteria such as geographic, socio economic, epidemiological or clinical or through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) or ambulatory care sensitive condition hospital admission data (Muecke, 2010). Australian initiatives The National Health and Hospital Reform Commission (2008) and the National Health Performance Framework (2004) have given rise to the following principles for delivering improved healthcare to rural and remote populations. Accordingly, the services should 1) be accessible and equitable in that services should be need based and payable consistent with paying capacity. 2) be needs based and should be sensitive to cultural differences, cultural diversity and choices 3) ensure early intervention aimed at maintaining wellness, prevention of illness and achieving optimal health. 4) aim at comprehensives of services through coordinated services of diverse spe cialists in the wake of incidence of chronic diseases, 5) ensure safety and quality of health care which should be appropriate, in time and effective consistent with the best available evidence, 6) be efficient by minimising cost and maximising value, 7) be sustainable and 8) be based on the principle of accountability (Humphreys & Wakerman, n.d ). The Final report June 2009 of the health reform commission towards a better health for all Australians by tackling major access and equity issues prioritises five issues towards that end. 1) First, to improve the health outcomes for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 2) Second, mental health care to be improved. 3) Third, to extend support for those living in remote and rural areas. 4) Fourth, improved access to dental health care. And 5) Fifth, Quicker access to health care in public hospitals (DepartmentOfHealthandAgeing, 2009). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. This long neglected segment of the Australia n population has caught the attention of the policy makers who have made determined efforts to give the top most priority for better health care delivery to these people. The Australian government have publicly apologised to these people. The intensity and sincerity of purpose to improve health outcomes to the First Australians living in isolation both in rural and urban areas have been unprecedented. Towards this end, a separate authority of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Authority (NATSIHA) has been formed. All the funding are aggregated and entrusted to this authority which is expected to utilise the funds for purchasing and commissioning the best available health care services. The services are expected to be effective, of high quality, appropriate to their culture and to meet the needs of these populations with a focus of the family and community of each member. Health care delivery does not mean treating illness alone. In order to promote their well bein g, their low nutrition intake has been targeted to be improved so as to close the health gap among these people. As a part of this initiative, vegetable and fruits hitherto unavailable to them owing to their remoteness are to be made available at their places of living at affordable prices (DepartmentOfHealthandAgeing, 2009). Serious mental illness The next priority has been accorded to