Health Policy Analysis

Abstract

The examination of Australia’s health care system in Chapter 1 revealed that two of the most important health policy issues are the appropriate roles for public and private interests, and for the different levels of government. Much of the political controversy about health care arises from the fact that the Federal government is responsible for financing a medical care system in which the majority of services are provided by private practitioners. Since the Federal government pays for a high proportion of the total cost of health care, should it also have a major responsibility for policy making and the overall planning of health services? Or should planning take place at State, regional, or community level?