Tag Archives: Health inequalities

A pressing question about private health care

February 3, 2009 – 10:23 am

Mark Ragg, whose recent report, Fine, but not fair, has generated some interesting debate about health inequalities, has a question for readers:
“Thanks all who provided comment. I accept both bouquets for presentation and brickbats for not digging deeply enough. I’d like to point out, as a meager defence, that I was well aware of the [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Health inequalities, private health insurance | Also tagged , | Comments (6)

We need a fairer health system says public hospitals boss

February 3, 2009 – 10:11 am

Prue Power, Executive Director, Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association, adds to the debate about health inequalities:
“As the peak national body for public health services, including public hospitals, the AHHA has a strong commitment to equity within our health system.
While Australia’s health system performs well compared with many other countries, in terms of equity of access, [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Health inequalities, Hospitals, Indigenous health, dental care, health reform, rural and remote health | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Health funding a dog’s breakfast says Andrew Podger

January 30, 2009 – 5:48 pm

Andrew Podger, a former Health Department secretary and public service commissioner, writes:
I have no doubt Ragg is right in highlighting problems of inequality in Australia’s health system, but I am also not sure we should expect the system to achieve full equality even if it were operating well.
Slowly and surely governments are recognising that our [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Health inequalities, health reform, private health insurance | Also tagged , | Comments (1)

Wait a minute, we don’t have a health SYSTEM at all…

January 30, 2009 – 5:39 pm

Ian McAuley, an adjunct lecturer in public sector finance at the University of Canberra and a Fellow of the Centre for Policy Development, writes:
Mark Ragg’s report on our health care is an excellent snapshot, looking like the school report card of a brilliant kid with severe autism.
The only disagreement I have with Ragg is that [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Health inequalities, Indigenous health | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

How inequality is built into the health system

January 30, 2009 – 5:32 pm

Dr James Gillespie, Deputy Director, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, writes:
Mark Ragg has reminded us that the undoubted successes of Australian health care are blighted by deep inequalities. The most worrying thought that emerges from his well presented figures is that these are not just hangovers from an earlier era soon to be swept aside [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Health inequalities, private health insurance | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Looking more deeply into cancer and inequality: Andrew Penman

January 30, 2009 – 2:08 pm

Dr Andrew Penman, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council NSW, writes:
Ragg reminds us that equity in health outcomes is a value more promoted in the health service than realised.  But there’s more to differences in cancer survival than a headline.  He needs to dig deeper to separate wheat from chaff.
First point to make is that not [...]

By Croakey | Posted in Indigenous health, cancer, rural and remote health | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)