role of health care

The role of health care is to provide resources for treatment and prevention. Health care is more than just curative services and includes the new focus on health promotion .

range and types of health facilities and services

Institutional

* public hospitals

* private hospitals

* psychiatric hospitals

* nursing homes

Non institutional

* GP clinics

* Specialists - dentist, podiatrist, physiotherpaist

* outreach services such as mobile services to the homeless

* sexual health clinics

* drug and alcohol related care services

access to health facilities and services

Affordable and sustainable health care is one of the major roles of the health system. Medicare aims to provide fundamental health care to all Australians however there are situations where this is not possible due to barriers including rural and isolated areas, lack of health knowledge, cultural and religious backgrounds.

responsibility for health care

Federal/Commonwealth Government

* health policies

* control of health finance

* medicare

* pharmaceutical benefits scheme (pbs)

* health promotion initiatives

State/Territory governments

* public hospitals

* psychiatric hospitals

* regulations for private hospitals, nursing homes & health professionals

* rehabilitation services

Private sector

* private hospitals

* nursing homes

* non profit organisations (eg: cancer council)

Local government

* preventative regulations - hygiene, pool fencing,

* community health centres

* specialists -(GP, Physio, etc)