Australia seems to be leaving the people who need medical care the most behind.
Our ‘universal’ healthcare is a long way from free and certainly coming in at a cost for many Australians, some of whom are the least likely to be able to pay.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that more than one in 10 Australians living in areas of most socioeconomic disadvantage delayed or went without prescription medication when needed due to cost.
ABS head of health statistics Robert Long said: “Areas of most socio-economic disadvantage saw 11 per cent of people delaying or going without prescription medication when needed due to cost. This was nearly double the rate of people from areas of least disadvantage (6 per cent).”
Dental care failing
And the figures are even worse for dental care, which attracts little federal government funding.
“More than a quarter, or 27 per cent, of Australians living in areas of most socioeconomic disadvantage also delayed or did not see a dental professional when needed due to cost,” Mr Long said.
“This was more than twice the rate of people from areas of least disadvantage, which was 11 per cent.”
The only dental care the federal government covers is for children, but any benefits are capped at two calendar years. The payments are only available to families who are already receiving other government benefits.
States and territories provide some free dental care, but services are limited and as the demand is strong, waiting times can be months or even years. For example, according to the Australian Dental Association’s Victoria branch waiting times in that state are an average 16.7 months. Adults need a Health Care Card or Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card to be eligible.
Delaying mental health care
Sadly, no matter the household income, people are delaying mental health care due to cost, despite almost one-fifth (18.8 per cent) of the population reporting they needed to see a health professional for their own mental health.
The proportion of people living in areas of most socio-economic disadvantage who delayed or did not see a health professional for their own mental health when needed due to cost (22 per cent) was similar to that of those living in areas of least disadvantage (18.8 per cent). Females were more likely to delay or not see a health professional for their own mental health when needed due to cost than males (24 per cent compared to 14.8 per cent).
And it seems people in cities were much more likely to delaying seeing a mental health professional, despite have more access to services.
People living in major cities were more likely to delay or not see a health professional for their own mental health when needed due to cost than those living in outer regional, remote or very remote areas (21.7 per cent compared to 13.8 per cent).
Not surprisingly, private health insurance is not filling the gaps.
“Only 35 per cent of people living in areas of most socioeconomic disadvantage had private health insurance cover, compared to 79 per cent of those living in areas of least disadvantage,” Mr Long said.
However, there is one standout figure for battling Aussies.
“On a more positive note, people living in areas of most socioeconomic disadvantage were more likely to receive coordination of their care than those living in areas of least disadvantage,” Mr Long said.
Women’s health gap
The figures also support the issue of the women’s health gap. This is the problem of women falling behind in health services, from the support they are given from their primary carers to lack of research on female bodies.
The ABS figures found males reported more positive experiences with hospital ED doctors and specialists than females. Males reported they were:
- always listened to carefully (72.2 per cent compared to 62.8 per cent of women)
- always shown respect (76.9 per cent compared to 66.3 per cent of women)
- always had enough time spent with them (69.0 per cent compared to 58.4 per cent of women.
Males also reported more positive experiences with hospital ED nurses than females:
- always had enough time spent with them (74.8 per cent compared to 66.7 per cent)
- always listened to carefully (77.8 per cent compared to 70.2 per cent)
- always shown respect (80.4 per cent compared to 73.7 per cent).
Do you agree with these figures? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Patient experiences decline, especially for older people
