Answer To: ASSESSMENT BRIEF Subject Code and Title PUBH6001: Health Policy and Advocacy Assessment Assessment...
Sunabh answered on Jul 18 2021
Running Head: HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY 1
HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY 2
PUBH6001: HEALTH POLICY AND ADVOCACY
ASSESSMENT 2: POLICY ANALYSIS ESSAY
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Problem and Context 3
Frame of Reference 4
Targets, Stakeholders and Their Representation 5
Policy Process 6
Policy Solutions 7
Effectiveness of the Policy 8
Conclusion 9
References 10
Introduction
Public health is one of the major concerns in front of every regulatory body. This is majorly because identification of a public health concern and development of public health policy to target the identified concern is a long-term process. Major goal of every public health policy is to improve the health of target population and improve the outcomes.
This Health Policy Analysis Plan would focus upon ‘National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023’ (Northern Territory Government, 2020). Further, efforts would be made to identify and present the historical context behind the implication of this policy along with its target stakeholders and effectiveness for the target or concerned population. The policy analysis would conclude with the effectiveness of policy along with the mention of organisations and accountability.
Problem and Context
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities belong to the native communities of Australia and these were among first few communities, which colonised Australia. However, these communities are considered as backward and social in-acceptance forced them to drift away from modern society. These communities have very high rate of health issues.
Besides, due to prevalent discrimination, indigenous health has always been neglected in Australia. Wilson, Zhao and Condon (2019) mentioned that life expectancy rate of individuals from these communities have been reported to be 11.5 years less than the non-indigenous individuals. One of the key rationales behind this low life expectancy rate is the prevalent of chronic and life threatening diseases such as, diabetes, substance abuse, hypertension, mental health issues and much more.
Reath and O'Mara (2018) suggested that native health have mostly been neglected during policy making because of the persistent health equality and lack of unbiased human rights approach. Moreover, these communities were not even considered as a part of decision-making process, as an outcome of which their major issues were left unaddressed. Poor health among these communities is majorly accompanied and fostered by issues such as lack of education, homelessness, poverty, inability to afford medical treatment and much more.
These adjoining issues were not addressed by previous health policies. The chosen health plan for analysis tends to address all of these issues, which were overlooked by the previous policies. This health plan have been develop to not only improve the health of these communities but also to make sure that Australian system becomes free of racism and inequality; thus, providing these communities with equal access to health care services.
Frame of Reference
As mentioned above also, the chosen heath plan does not target upon one specific issue rather, it focuses upon the other issues as well, which are responsible for poor health conditions between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Therefore, a common frame of reference targeted under this health plan is to eradicate social inequalities and disparities, which these communities face while accessing health services.
Likewise, the vision of chosen health plan is to make Australian health system free from any kind of racism and inequalities against native communities (Australian Government, 2020). Social inequalities exists all around globe; however, public health policies address them partially while chosen health plan in collaboration with ‘Close the Gap’ campaign tend to address all other issues affecting native health.
Further, it would also be essential to consider that culture has also been presented as a major frame of reference and this is majorly because culture is highly dynamic and variable throughout this world and while providing health services, culture of such native communities is not given much importance. Therefore, because of this, these communities do not seek medical treatments or services while chosen heath plan tend to address culture as a part of necessity to ensure wellbeing of these communities along with the inclusion of broader social issues such as equality, rights, justice and much more.
Targets, Stakeholders and Their Representation
The target of chosen health plan are Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and this is majorly because these belong to socially supressed and highly discriminated part of Australian society, which are...