HLTHEN516B: Health Care System - Compares And Contrasts- Australian Health Care System - Essay Writing Assessment Answer

Health Care System Assignment

Assignment Task

The essay must address the following points:

1. Discuss the overall structure of the Australian health care system compared to the other country’s health care system.
2. Examine the funding models for both health care systems; reviewing the roles and contributions of the government, private insurance companies and the individual.
3. Compare and contrast the health outcomes of each health care system to global averages.
4. Identify health care policies and the social impact of health care delivery to Indigenous populations or minorities groups within each country.
5. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both health care systems.
6. Outline one primary health care, a preventative health care program or a health promotion program that highlights the Australian health care system.

Introduction

Healthcare system tends to vary between countries; however, established to meet the needs of the patient needs which also vary. The Australian health system is one such which is established to meet the local needs of its citizens while reflecting the international status of an effective healthcare system. In comparison, with Germany healthcare system, the Australian system ranks high owing to its structure and ability to meet the needs of the citizens such as universal free access to healthcare among its population (Narins, 2014). In this regard, the government has a central role in the structure which involves funding and coordinate care to improve the patient's condition as well as preventing associated health problems. Research by Denton (2013) argues that some states tend to have expanded system that involve different stakeholders such as nongovernmental organizations, private sector and the government which provide and coordinate the care provided to meet the needs of the citizens. The paper presents an evaluation of the overall healthcare system and a comparison with that of German and draws conclusion on the most effective in addressing the health needs of their needs based on their weakness and strengths.

Overall structure of Australian Healthcare System Compared to German's

In addressing the research questions, one thing is common, that the Australian health system tends to be a complex one based on its composition. Nevertheless, Srivastava's (2016) shares the premise that Australia healthcare system is regarded as one of the world's best due to its ability to meet the citizens’ needs irrespective of their backgrounds or income levels. The healthcare system in Australia involves a web of service providers, patients and structures that accounts for the complexity of the system. In understanding, the difference with German system, there is need consider its organization and funding as well as delivery to meet patient needs. Despite the complexity of the system in the country, its acts as a multi-faceted and inclusive system that helps in addressing the healthcare needs of the citizens from various aspects such as gender, age, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds among other aspects. The success of the system is centered around the network of governance and support aspects that provide effective policies, legislations and funding enhancing the delivery of quality services that meets the patient needs. Additionally the Australian system is divided into components that promotes the patient access and delivery of patient centered care both in government. The success of the healthcare system in the country is based on the legislative aspects and funding support from the government which varies from countries such as German (Willis, Reynolds & Keleher, 2012).

One common aspect that describes the Australian health system involves universal or collective access to different healthcare services at no cost based on government funding through the Medicare policy established in 1984. The policy covers all the citizens to access free treatment in public hospitals as well as get subsidized medical services which has created a significant positive impact to the country compared to German such as increasing the life expectancy making it the third longest in the Organization of Economic Corporation Development (OECD). Nevertheless, the Australian healthcare system experiences different challenges such as addressing the needs of the ageing population, increasing obesity levels, chronic diseases and mental illness among the citizens. However, the government plays a significant role in addressing the needs through continued funding making healthcare one of the greatest beneficiaries of the country's GDP which is 9% of the GDP and growing as the population increases (Duckett & Willcox, 2015). However, the country still have robust funding mechanisms. Additionally, the healthcare system is characterized by trained workforce, well-maintained facilities, reliable information sources and sharing mechanisms centered on information technology which also provides the basis for decision and policy making.

In comparison with German healthcare system, research done by Fleming & Parker (2012) suggests that the Australian health system is well structured than German health system since the government in German provides less funding healthcare expenditure does not account for a high percentage of the GDP. The cross-national comparison also promote the idea that the Medicare system provides equal and affordable access to healthcare services, a system that define or differentiates the two countries health systems. The of services provided is high enhancing the chances of addressing the patient needs. For example, Srivastava's (2016), notes that the quality of services is high in public hospitals which makes it difficult to differentiate public and private healthcare settings due to the collaborative approach to care and advanced medicines.

Funding Models From Both Healthcare systems

One key aspect that differentiate German and Australian healthcare system includes the funding models and the government contributions. In this regard, the Australian government tends to have the larger responsibility in funding healthcare through the Medicare program. However, the government depends on public taxes demonstrating the citizens role in their health. On the other hand, the presence of different levels of governance also shifts the responsibility of funding from the federal government as well as promoting taxes to raise revenues. There is also the presence of private medical funding model which is present in both countries and depends on the patients capability to cater for their health (Sorensen & Iedema, 2011).

The model is more common in Germany since the government support in terms of funding is less compared to that of Australia that caters for the citizens healthcare costs. There is also the presence of private insurance packages which is also common in the Germany healthcare system; however, in both states the government has a greater role in providing funding only that Australian government covers everything. The presence of the country in the Commonwealth organization also serves as a funding model in Australia. However, the government still holds 45 percent of the total funding of the healthcare system. The government in both countries also supports the private insurance to support (Naccarella et al, 2016).

Comparison of the healthcare outcomes of each system to global averages

A comparison of the Australian healthcare model with global healthcare systems such as the US demonstrates that the country ranks high despite the presence of different weaknesses. Data from OECD also demonstrates that the presence of the Medicare policy in Australia has significantly improve the overall outcomes characterized by increased life expectancy in the country. On the other hand, Germany's system is ranked lower based on the idea that the level of government support is less in addressing the healthcare needs resulting to the ineffectiveness of healthcare services. The country lacks a healthcare systems that serves the patient needs but rather depends on the insurance policy in which the patients contribute the higher percentage (Chapin, 2015).

It's also based on the idea of social insurance as the government believes in social benefits to address the citizen needs. The government further deducts health insurance premiums from the employees to support their own health. To some extent, the German healthcare systems tends to be effective in ensuring the citizens play a role in their health and tends to align with the US healthcare system. However, the Australian system is effective and ranked high since it encourages individual role in their health as well as increased government support. Another feature that promotes Australian healthcare system above the global averages includes the idea of supporting private healthcare settings as well as insurance demonstrating their desired concern on the citizens’ health (Furze & Furze, 2012).

Health Care Policies And The Social Impact To IndigenousPopulations

From a global perspective, the healthcare policy in Australia is effective and the best in addressing the healthcare needs of the minorities or the indigenous populations. According to Eren & Webster (2016), Australia has a significant number of minority populations who have for a long time faced challenges in access quality and affordable healthcare services. However, since the establishment of Medicare policy in 1984, Australia has been able to achieve the healthy equity aspect as well as affordability aspect by enhancing access to quality and free healthcare among all the citizens particularly the minorities (Douglas, Rebeiro, Crisp & Taylor, 2012). Unlike other states such as the US which has problems in enhancing healthcare access among the minority groups the Medicare policy in Australia has played a significant role by ensuring free and universal access to health among its population irrespective of their background, socioeconomic status or culture among other aspects that impact healthcare (Donato & Segal, 2013).

The aspect reduces disparities in healthcare which has been common in other countries such as the UK and tend to limit equality in healthcare provision. However, in German healthcare system, the aspect on individual health insurance policy tends to affect the minority groups negatively based on the idea that they come from low economic settings; hence not likely to pay for the insurance cover. In this regard, some healthcare policies have potential to develop both positive and negative impact among the indigenous populations (Australian Institute f Health and Welfare, 2014).

Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Health Care Systems

In most cases the impact of healthcare is determined by its ability to reduce the patient problems and create positive outcomes. However, the care provided must be high quality to address the patient needs and improve their safety. Some of the strong aspects associated with the Australian healthcare system includes promoting equal and affordable access to healthcare to all citizens. The country's Medicare supports the achievement of this objective by covering the patients cost of care in the country irrespective of their backgrounds. The policy address the problem of equality and affordability aspect of healthcare by ensuring universal or free access to care. The Australian healthcare system is also characterized by string funding models from the government which has the largest share, private institutions and nongovernmental organizations. Additionally, there exists coordinated care efforts among the providers and the government which also incorporates technology to enhance communication and information sharing thus enhancing positive outcomes. However, it develops a greater burden to the government in funding the overall healthcare system since the sector takes the largest part of the country's expenditure (Rice, 2015).

On the other hand, the German healthcare system enhance the chances of individual role in their own health through insurance policies. The system also has strong support from the government. However, the healthcare system in the country has several limitations such as coordination problem, cooperation between healthcare’s provided. Additionally, it limits effective and affordable healthcare to the population as the minorities are disadvantaged.

Healthcare promotion Program

One key healthcare promotion program that characterizes Australian healthcare system includes Medicare program that promotes free access to healthcare among all citizens despite their backgrounds. The model has been effective in improving the overall patient outcomes as well as increasing the life expectancy. The program also demonstrates the government's commitment in addressing healthcare problems among its population as well as reducing barriers that limit access to quality services.