A new prescription for health: Op Ed by Painaustralia Director and Clinical Advisor, A/Prof Dr Malcolm Hogg

In an activity-based funding system there is little financial incentive to prevent or reduce health interventions by keeping people healthy and out of the system.
 
The concerns of poor integration within Australia’s health sector extends further than just its funding models.  Currently many services are provided in silos, like cancer, cardiac, orthopaedics, aged care, etc., yet they interact and overlap with other sections, meaning duplications and endless cross-referencing.  Communication easily breaks down, leading to delays, confusion and potential for error.
 
It all leads to one critical question: will pouring more money into the current structures lead to better access and/or quality of care? In recent times, multidisciplinary teams have developed to offer more co-ordinated, holistic care, yet the funding systems to support often lag behind or don’t extend well out into the community where much of the care and support takes place.

Read the op ed here.