Australia’s shocking health divide is set to grow

Without urgent intervention, thousands more Australians will die from preventable chronic disease with new research showing the health gap between the wealthiest and the most disadvantaged remains widening. increase.

The latest Australia’s Health Tracker: Chronic Conditions by Socioeconomic Status launched today by Victoria University (VU), highlights where you live determines your health, including your risk of dying prematurely from preventable chronic diseases.

Between 2017 and 2021, more than 125,000 Australians aged between 30 and 70 will die from preventable diseases. The vast majority – 71% – lived in the most disadvantaged communities and were more likely to be in regional or rural areas of the country.

The Tracker report card compiles existing disease prevalence data to show the strong relationship between chronic and premature death and socioeconomic status.

Report card informed Getting Australia’s Health on Track 2024 a series of policy proposals to address issues that contribute to poor health in disadvantaged communities.

Lead author Professor Rosemary Calder, Director of VU’s Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) says the widening gap between the public who can afford to maintain their health, and the public who cannot, should be something of great concern to all Australians.

“This situation is getting worse and we have to do something about it. The best way is to take a place-based approach and start tailoring what governments and organizations do to the needs and strengths of local communities. ” Professor Calder said.

The report card shows that more than 10 million Australians live in the 40 per cent of the population with the highest levels of homosexuality and are at high risk of developing preventable chronic diseases and health. less beautiful.

In these countries:

• Cancer rates are almost twice as high
• Diabetes rates are almost three times higher
• The chances of having a heart attack or stroke are doubled
• Lung disease – including emphysema – is three times higher.

“The health and well-being of people living in slums are adversely affected by many socio-economic factors, such as low income, low education, poor employment conditions, poor housing quality and limited access to the resources needed for good health,” Professor Calder explained.

Dr. Suzanne Williams works at Inala Primary Care medical practice in Queensland. A community with high levels of poverty and complex health care needs – about 20% of clinic patients have diabetes, more than 30% smoke and almost and half of their patients are prescribed five or more medications. He is at the forefront of this growing force of chronic disease. For him, change must involve removing guilt and shame from individuals.

“As a physician, it is difficult to use health services that do not want to be complicated. In my practice, many patients with high mental health needs and complex medical conditions are often they need translators, and they need more time to achieve the same health care results.

“Improving health outcomes starts with bringing communities together – giving them confidence and empowering them to take control of their lives.

“Having good health is expensive and difficult to manage. We have to raise health literacy for all communities. Access to health also needs to be easy – not just in cases emergency but first with major health support. This doesn’t work if we can’t cut costs,” Dr. Williams said.

Tracey Johnson is the CEO of Inala Primary Care: “Improving health outcomes in communities like ours benefits all Australians. It’s not about more money or higher taxes – it’s about using resources wisely. Integrated health management and Community care that builds capacity is important. Currently, funds do not provide direct care. , especially in general, our health endures for more than ten years before they die young more than they deserve, depriving them of a fulfilling life in the back in disadvantaged areas, they often work alone with little support and keeping health workers is easy so we can solve these problems together.”

To improve health outcomes, leading health and social care professionals have agreed on ten policy recommendations that will reduce preventable diseases and improve health and well-being in disadvantaged communities. .

They include:

• Establish a national plan and fund for local cooperation and coordination of regional initiatives.
• Create long-term funding for community organizations and service providers.
• To rehabilitate community development workers and provide support for volunteer participation.
• Municipal Health and Welfare Plans should be mandatory in all national and regional areas.
• To implement health and welfare allocations in all national and regional planning projects.
• Invest in prevention by improving health literacy within the community.
• Strengthen collaboration between Primary Health Care Networks and Health Services in the Prevention Zone.
• Provide flexible long-term funding for the coordinated care of various groups.
• Reduce stigma and discrimination in health and community services.
• Reduce barriers to access to finance in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas.

“From removing barriers to access to health care in disadvantaged and remote areas, to tackling stigma and discrimination to ensuring need-based funding, we call for urgent action to ensure that vulnerable people receive health care the life they deserve, not what they can afford,” Professor Calder added.

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To arrange an interview with Professor Rosemary Calder and other research, contact Gemma Williams, Director of Media and Communications
[email protected]
; 0401 664 047.

Rear end: The Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC), led by the health policy team at the Institute of Health and Sport (IHES) at the University of Victoria, is a national collaboration of experts and leading public health organizations. and chronic diseases. Founded in 2014, it brings together leading health organizations and chronic disease experts to translate current evidence and practice into policy recommendations to prevent and reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the population.