Policy challenges for the Australian health care system

Abstract

In contrast to the regular media reports decrying the so-called crisis in the health system, anumber of academic commentators have identified areas in which the Australian health caresystem could improve. George Palmer has been one of those, and over the years has publisheda body of work identifying areas for improvement. This paper reviews the performance ofthe Australian health care system against the criteria of equity, efficiency and acceptability,and explicates the contemporary problem areas associated with each criterion.