Beyond the aspirational: Creating the future of health care in Australia

Abstract

AbstractThe context of healthcare in Australia is shifting very rapidly; more chronic diseases, budgetary stress, and the constant threat of the next pandemic and climate change means that patterns of disease and care are changing, and the workforce is under pressure. Health systems have learned to respond as best they can, but there are many challenges and opportunities for the Australian healthcare system to plan and implement an evidence‐based and sustainable approach to healthcare delivery in the next decade. To support this approach, many peak bodies and authoritative agencies, such as the Australian Government in their 2022 Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report, have described laudable visions for healthcare, but no‐one has laid out a tangible blueprint for whole‐of‐system change. Here, we outline nine strategies that span principles of integrated, value‐based care, a focus on prevention and quality, the development of a skilled workforce and health literate populations, and the use of emerging technologies such as genomics and artificial intelligence. These strategies form a potential path for the Australian healthcare system to meet the changing requirements of the current decade and take the aspirational visions of the future of healthcare into an improved, patient‐based health system that delivers care in line with best practice.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.