published letters

I agree with Ross Gittins (Age 1/5) that we provide quality health care as well or better than most countries but with several important caveats. Firstly, that care is not available in a timely manner to many. Access is determined by postcode, whether it is financial or geographic or cultural disadvantage. We are down the list of OECD countries when it comes to timely affordable access.

Secondly, it is optimistic to call our health care a health system. It consists of multiple silos which are often a nightmare for patients and carers to negotiate. That may be the same elsewhere, but relates to our federated system.

Thirdly, the main theme of the argument is improved productivity due to technological advances for specific ailments. That is just one part of health care. Countries with high quality primary health care (not the fancy new technology), have improved health across the socioeconomic spectrum.

We hope that the evolving approach of Labor to that issue will continue apace.