Medicine: Health Challenges, Australia Health Sector

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Health Challenges Australia Is Likely To Face In 40 Years Time
Explanation of Australian Health Challenges in Sociological Terms
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Australia just like any other developed country in the world is not exempted from the challenges that are faced by either the developed or developing countries. In most cases Australia is likely to be faced with various challenges as a result of the constant growth in the human population, insecurity, health challenges, lack of basic infrastructures, lack of personnel, increased rates of unemployment amongst others (Germov, 2009). The most notable challenge the world nations are likely to face in the years to come is with regards to health. It is also noted that the productivity and growth of a given country are determined by the health status of its citizens (House of Representatives Standing…, 2005).

Medical experts in Australia have noted that there is a looming crisis that Australia is likely to face in the next 40-50 years. These challenges in the health sector are also seen to possibly deprive Australia and its citizens the opportunity of ensuring that the country achieves its set goals (Marmot, 2006).

These challenges have also posed a lot of panic and distress to the political and opinion leaders in the country (Australia) who are much concerned with the future state of the country and its citizens in general. They see these challenges that will Australia’s health sector as some of the issues that will affect the economy and stability of the nation thus making it vulnerable to other countries which will take advantage of the weakening nation (Blane, 2006).

The Health Challenges Australia Is Likely To Face In 40 Years Time

The First challenge that Australia is likely to face in matters concerning health is the reduced numbers of medical practitioners; this includes the nurses, medical physicians, doctors and, other important staff who help in the daily running and management of the medical facilities (House of Representatives Standing …, 2005). This shortage of medical practitioners is currently being encountered in Australia and the same is expected to happen in the future. Analysts have projected that the chances of these crises increasing in the coming 40-50 years is substantially high unless intervening measures are put in place (Keleher & MacDougall, 2009).

This might be due to a lack of the necessary working equipment and training of the medical practitioners. Poor pay is also seen as another key contributor to the reduced number of medical practitioners. The other aspect that is considered to be a contributor to the shortage of nurses is the lack of teaching staff in the medical training institutions (Browning & Kendig, 2004). This is because the government isn’t concerned with hiring and motivating the teaching staff of these institutions thus resulting in teachers quitting as they look for greener pastures in terms of employment (Marmot, 2006). Additionally, the concept of globalization might also play a significant role in enhancing shortages of personnel. It is true that the Middle East is currently seen as a greener pasture offering attractive packages to medical practitioners (Gaynor et al. 2006). In the strictest sense, this kind of professional turnover is likely to be experienced in the future if no intervening strategies are put in place at the right time.

The other health challenge Australia is likely to face in the next 40-50 years is increased rates of the numbers of older staff who are considered to be less productive compared to the younger employees (AHWAC, 2004). Australia just like any other developed country is supposed to constantly employ (recruit) new medical practitioners into its health facilities regularly. However according to Blane, 2006 it is apparent that the government isn’t concerned in hiring new recruits into the systems This lack of government will in hiring new nurses has demoralized the students from undertaking medical courses; they opt to take other courses that they believe will help them secure employment once they complete their studies (House of Representatives Standing …, 2005). This lack of government will in employing fresh graduate areas is seen to heighten the increase of the older medical practitioners who are considered to be less productive than the younger employees. The issue is heightened by very high rates of attrition of medical students and nurses (Gaynor et al. 2005).

Negative stereotyping is another challenge that will be faced by Australian society shortly (Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008). Negative stereotyping has resulted in reduced numbers of medical practitioners and at the same time discouraged many students from joining medical schools (Neilson, 2009). The concept has (will) made it difficult for Australia to be able to maintain the good health of its citizens. Most people associate the medical profession with a special group of people thus making lots of students shy away from the profession (Blane, 2006). This is likely to be encountered in the next 40 years thus posing lots of challenges in the Australian health sector; as it will ultimately reduce the numbers of medical practitioners in the country, as a larger fraction of the students will undertake other courses with the aim of avoiding the stigma associated with the stereotyping (Marmot, 2006).

The other challenge that is likely to be faced by Australia in the coming 40 years is the increase of the older citizens in the medical health facilities; in this case, the numbers of the old-age in Australia will be on the rise and thus it will subject the medical facilities into catering for their needs (Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008).

Lastly as suggested by Germov, 2009 it is evident that as a result of multiple factors such as climate change, change in diet among others, it is apparent that new health issues especially new diseases will emerge. Consequently, past diseases such as polio might re-emerge. Due to the fact that past diseases might be resistant to current drugs and that the new diseases may not have available and effective drugs then there is a big trouble to Australians and the entire globe (Crow & Hartman, 2005).

Explanation of Australian Health Challenges in Sociological Terms

This section explains the various sociological terms that are associated with the highlighted challenges and demonstrates how these challenges are socially affecting Australian citizens. The first explanation of a social term is the ideal type, this is where individuals who are concerned with overseeing the transition and correct functioning of the health sectors is upright (Keleher & MacDougall, 2009). Therefore, in this case, these people don’t contribute in setting up the correct measures that are necessary in the proper operation of these institutions, thus resulting in malfunctioning of the institutions. This leads to the entire society suffering from the self-interest of one or a small group of individuals (Blane, 2006).

Political myth is the other sociological term that explains the future health problems of Australia (House of Representatives Standing ……, 2005). Political myth is an ideology whereby an individual or a group sets policies aimed at benefiting themselves without even considering the effects of their actions to society. This case is seen as the contributor to reduced numbers of medical practitioners in the country (Neilson, 2009). The politicians (Government) will ignore the medical industry and concentrate on the other areas and as a result, the health sector will be denied financial and political support resulting in reduced health care (Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008).

Culture is also another major explanation of the increased challenge in the Australian health sector; this is because culture plays a very significant role in the daily running of medical facilities. Culture is also considered to be the most notable contributor in the stereotyping of the medical profession and any other profession in the entire world (Browning & Kendig, 2004).

Conclusion

In conclusion according to various studies that have been conducted, it has been noted that the most affected people as a result of the lack of medical practitioners are the low-income earners. Various recommendations have indicated that the nurse shortage can be reduced by 65%. Similarly, the major challenges that will face the Australian health sector in the next 40 to 50 years include reduced medical personnel, negative stereotyping, the emergence of new health problems as well as an increased number of old persons who need serious and sound healthcare. Social terms that explain this trend include political myths, culture as well as government policies. There is thus a need to rethink the present strategies and come up with new ones that will help the country counter these challenges.

References

Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee (AHWAC). The Australian nursing workforce ‑ an overview of workforce planning 2001‑2004, Sydney. AHWAC Report 204.2

Blane, D. 2006, ‘The life course, the social gradient and health’, in Marmot, M & Wilkinson, R. Social determinants of health. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Browning, C. & Kendig, H. 2004, ‘Maximizing health and wellbeing in older people’, in Moodie, R. & Hulme, A. 2004, Hands-on health promotion. Melbourne: IP Communications.

Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, 2008. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinant of health final report. Geneva, WHO. Web.

Crow, S. & Hartman, S. 2005. Attrition in nursing‑ perspectives from the national survey of college graduates. The Health Care Manager, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 336‑346.

Gaynor, L. et al. 2005, The future nursing workforce in Australia: baseline data for a prospective study of the profile, attrition rates and graduate outcomes in a contemporary cohort of undergraduates. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 25, no. 2, pp.10-21.

Germov, J. 2009, Second opinion: An introduction to health sociology. Melbourne, Oxford University Press.

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, 2005, Future ageing: Inquiry into the long-term strategies to address the ageing of the Australian population in the next 40 years, Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia. Web.

Keleher, H. & MacDougall, C. 2009, Understanding health: A determinants approach. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Marmot, M. 2006, Health in an unequal world. Lancet, vol. 368, no.1, pp. 2081-2094.

Neilson, B. 2009, Ageing and globalization in a moment of so-called crisis. Health Sociology Review, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 349-363.

Click Here To Order Now!