
Articles on Health policy
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The greatest workforce challenge Australia faces is in health, an issue that will likely be with us for another decade. Here’s one way to fix it.

We studied 1,709 aged care homes over five years and found increases in the use of ‘agency’ staff impacted quality of care. Ahead of the federal jobs summit, the sector faces ongoing challenges.

How can we get better primary health care access, quality and affordability that Labor has promised? We need to learn from what’s worked and failed overseas.

Some NDIS participants worry if they don’t spend their annual funds, they won’t be offered the same supports in their next plan – and it’s harder for some to use what they’ve been allocated.

Appointing an assistant minister for autism signals the neurodevelopmental condition is a priority – but a focus on it shouldn’t come at the expense of other conditions.

Legislation now entering parliament aims to make Aotearoa New Zealand smokefree by 2025. Forecast effects show huge potential health gains, especially for Māori.

Hospitals are struggling, with ambulances ramping outside emergency departments and patients facing long waits for care. But doing more of the same won’t fix the problem.

What do disadvantaged communities need to weather long COVID? Ask them.

The rate of very high psychological distress is rising most steeply in the middle aged, especially in middle-aged women on low incomes. New funding should match this need.

Only a fraction of aged care homes currently have staffing levels above the new minimum ratios that will be mandatory from next year.

Primary care and COVID will be the top two challenges for new government. But the likely ministers have strong credentials.

But are the major parties really focusing on the right issues?

Labor’s election pledge for Medicare includes some additional funding, but to strengthen the system, it needs to improve people’s access to doctors.

There are solutions to long surgery wait lists and workforce shortages, if the major parties had the bravery to commit to reform.

While states are responsible for running hospitals, the federal government shares responsibility for paying for them. But it’s an uneasy relationship.

Medicare has been mentioned a lot this election campaign. But what have the major parties actually promised? Five experts grade their policies.

Health-care costs are continuing to rise faster than wages, so many Australian families are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up.

Labor has announced it would introduce urgent care centres to take the pressure off emergency departments if it were elected. Would they work?

Aged care reform remains unfinished business for Labor. It made a start this week but more needs to come.

The constantly changing COVID-19 rules can be frustrating. But this pandemic is like no other public health crisis in history. It is better to think of the virus and US responses the way we think about hurricanes.