The On Health Care Delivery - 1606 Words

The Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 had significant consequences on health care delivery in Australia, facilitating the introduction of primary health care (PHC) in Australia. PHC refers to an â€Å"integral† health care approach (World Health Organization [WHO], 1978), defined through its principles of accessibility, public participation, health promotion, intersectoral collaboration and appropriate technology (Downey Westera, 2009). Relations between obesity, being a National Health Priority Area (NHPA), and PHC will be expounded using the â€Å"Five A’s Framework† of The Australian National Preventative Health Agency (Harris, 2012). Through examining the latter, the reader will obtain an awareness of current management whilst identifying the†¦show more content†¦Continuation of bulk billing services minimise economic barriers, with 82% of general practice attendances being bulk billed from 2012-2013. Statistics indicate its effectiveness, as 94% of pers ons visiting PHCP’s, such as general practitioners or allied health professionals, excluded cost barriers (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2014). Public participation in PHC refers to a â€Å"right and responsibility† to engage in one’s health (Downey Westera, 2009). Public participation on the individual’s behalf is essential, as inadequate involvement could result in unsuitable referral or the absence of PHC itself. Westera (2009) outlines the necessity of community participation, referring to Local Health Advisory Committees (LHAC) (Downey Westera, 2009) considered as the â€Å"central connection between the local community and health service attitudes† (NSW Health, n.d). Through such involvement, PHC can be specialised to specific communities, addressing strengths and issues (Downey Westera, 2009), whilst â€Å"empowering local members† through their contributions (NSW Health, n.d.). Empowerment may also arise through health promotion, being defined as â€Å"activities which help individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of their health† (AIHW, 2014). According to Westera (2009), ‘patient teaching’ is integral to health promotion, involving the deliverance of education pertinent to primary prevention and management of