Essay – inequality & propose strategies to improve access to health care services

Resource Description

For some individuals and groups, access to appropriate health care service is problematic. Suggest reasons for this inequality and propose strategies to improve access to health care services.

For many individuals a part of certain groups in Australia, appropriate health care services and facilities are not easily accessible. These groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, socio-economically disadvantaged people, people who live in rural and remote areas, overseas born people, the elderly and people with disabilities. These groups experience these inequities as a result of social, economic, environmental and cultural factors, and major indicators such as rates of disease, hospitalisation and death help to identify areas in which these inequities occur. Also an individual’s health is often significantly affected by sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental determinants which can affect one’s ability to make positive heath decisions. Groups experiencing health inequalities are a priority issue to Australian heath authorities and government with health promotion and illness prevention campaigns attempting to address the determinants. However, these groups are still experiencing health inequities and this is partly due to a lack of access to health care services.