Comprehensive Primary Health Care in Australia: findings from a narrative review of the literature
Date
2010
Journal Title
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Abstract
Objectives: To identify the extent to which the Alma Ata
defined Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) approach
is practised and evaluated in Australia and to describe the role
that GPs and other medical practitioners play in it along with
implications of this for future policy in light of the Health and
Hospital Reform Commission (HHRC) and Primary Health Care
taskforce reports, 2009 recommendations.
Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature
(published and grey) from 1987 to mid 2007 as part of a global
review carried out by teams of researchers in six regions in
2007.
Results: In Australia, the CPHC approach occurs chiefly in
Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services, state
funded community health and in rural/remote and inner city
areas. Participation by GPs in CPHC is limited by funding
structures, workforce shortages and heavy workloads. Factors
that facilitated the CPHC approach include flexibility in
funding and service provision, cultural appropriateness of
services, participation and ownership by local consumers and
communities and willingness to address the social
determinants of health.
Conclusions: The recent HHRC and Primary Health Care
Taskforce reports recommend an expansion of CPHC services
as a means of tackling health inequities. The findings of this review suggest that resources will need to be directed
beyond individual treatment to population health issues,
cross-sector collaboration and consumer participation in
order to realise the CPHC model. Without attention to
these areas PHC will not be comprehensive and its ability
to contribute to reducing inequities will be severely
hampered. The absence of an evaluation culture
supported with resources for CPHC programs and services
also hinders the ability of practitioners and policy makers
to assess the benefits of these programs and how their
implementation can be improved. Funding structures,
workforce issues and evaluation of programs will all need
to be addressed if the health sector is to contribute to the
goal of reducing health inequities.
Description
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Text
Keywords
COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, GENERAL PRACTICE, HEALTHCARE REFORM, AUSTRALIA, GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, HEALTH INEQUITY, HEALTH FINANCING
Citation
Hurley C., Baum F., Johns J., & Labonte R.(2010). Comprehensive Primary Health Care in
Australia: findings from a narrative review of the
literature. AMJ, 1 (2), 147-152. doi
10.4066/AMJ.2010.201
DOI
Collections
IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Health Systems Research / recherche sur les systèmes de santé
Research Results (GHRI) / Résultats de recherches (IRSM)
Teasdale-Corti Global Health Research Partnership (TC) / partenariat Teasdale-Corti de recherche en santé mondiale
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Health Systems Research / recherche sur les systèmes de santé
Research Results (GHRI) / Résultats de recherches (IRSM)
Teasdale-Corti Global Health Research Partnership (TC) / partenariat Teasdale-Corti de recherche en santé mondiale