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HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 192

Explain how Australia's ageing population impacts the sustainability of the healthcare system.   (4 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Australia’s ageing population creates increased demand for healthcare services because older adults require more frequent medical treatments and chronic disease management.
  • This leads to higher healthcare expenditure as more Australians need access to specialists, hospital services and ongoing medication.
  • The reason this impacts sustainability is the healthcare workforce must expand to meet growing demand from older patients.
  • Consequently, government health spending increases substantially because older Australians use healthcare services more intensively than younger populations.
  • This results in greater pressure on public hospitals as emergency departments experience higher patient volumes.
  • Therefore, the demographic shift threatens sustainability unless substantial investment occurs in workforce development and preventive services.
Show Worked Solution
  • Australia’s ageing population creates increased demand for healthcare services because older adults require more frequent medical treatments and chronic disease management.
  • This leads to higher healthcare expenditure as more Australians need access to specialists, hospital services and ongoing medication.
  • The reason this impacts sustainability is the healthcare workforce must expand to meet growing demand from older patients.
  • Consequently, government health spending increases substantially because older Australians use healthcare services more intensively than younger populations.
  • This results in greater pressure on public hospitals as emergency departments experience higher patient volumes.
  • Therefore, the demographic shift threatens sustainability unless substantial investment occurs in workforce development and preventive services.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 191

Describe the main challenges facing the sustainability of Australia's healthcare system.   (3 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Australia’s ageing population increases demand for healthcare services as they require more frequent medical treatment.
  • Rising healthcare costs create financial pressure on government budgets, making it difficult to maintain current service levels.
  • Rural and remote areas lack adequate health services, creating inequities in healthcare access for these communities.
  • Healthcare workforce shortages limit the system’s capacity to meet growing demand for medical professionals.
  • Chronic diseases are becoming more prevalent, requiring ongoing management that strains the healthcare system long-term.
Show Worked Solution
  • Australia’s ageing population increases demand for healthcare services as they require more frequent medical treatment.
  • Rising healthcare costs create financial pressure on government budgets, making it difficult to maintain current service levels.
  • Rural and remote areas lack adequate health services, creating inequities in healthcare access for these communities.
  • Healthcare workforce shortages limit the system’s capacity to meet growing demand for medical professionals.
  • Chronic diseases are becoming more prevalent, requiring ongoing management that strains the healthcare system long-term.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 88 MC

Healthcare sustainability challenges related to access and equity are primarily caused by:

  1. Insufficient private health insurance coverage in metropolitan areas
  2. Lack of advanced medical technology in public hospitals
  3. Disparities based on cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic factors affecting health literacy and service access
  4. Overuse of telehealth services reducing face-to-face consultations
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Notable differences in patient outcomes based on cultural ethnic socioeconomic and geographic factors create sustainability challenges.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Metropolitan areas generally have better access sustainability challenges affect rural areas more.
  • B is incorrect: Technology gaps exist but broader access disparities create greater sustainability issues.
  • D is incorrect: Telehealth improves rather than reduces access particularly for remote populations.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 87 MC

The ageing population will impact healthcare sustainability because:

  1. Older people prefer private health insurance over Medicare services
  2. There will be increased demand for healthcare services requiring more workforce and funding
  3. Prevention programs become less effective for people over 65 years
  4. Rural areas will have better access to healthcare than urban centres
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Increased demand from ageing population will result in higher costs and workforce needs.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Insurance preference doesn’t create sustainability challenges the increased demand does.
  • C is incorrect: Prevention programs remain important for all age groups including older adults.
  • D is incorrect: Rural areas face greater not better healthcare access challenges than urban centres.

HMS, HAG 2012 HSC 33a

What issues should be considered when determining the allocation of funding to address health inequities of specific population groups?   (8 marks)

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  • Population health data guides funding priorities by identifying groups with the greatest health disparities and highest disease burden.
  • Epidemiological evidence reveals mortality and morbidity patterns that inform resource allocation decisions.
  • For example, higher cardiovascular disease rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples necessitate increased funding for culturally appropriate prevention programs.
      
  • Geographic accessibility influences funding distribution as remote and rural populations require different service delivery models.
  • Distance from healthcare facilities creates additional costs for mobile services, telehealth infrastructure and specialist visits.
  • This results in higher per-capita funding requirements for geographically isolated communities compared to metropolitan areas.
      
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis determines optimal resource allocation by comparing intervention outcomes with financial investment.
  • Prevention programs demonstrate better long-term value than treatment-focused approaches because they reduce future healthcare costs.
  • For instance, immunisation programs prevent expensive disease management while smoking cessation initiatives reduce cardiovascular treatment expenditure.
      
  • Political and social considerations affect funding decisions through community advocacy, media attention and electoral priorities.
  • Visible health issues attract greater public support and government commitment resulting in disproportionate funding allocation.
  • However, this can lead to neglect of less publicised health problems affecting smaller population groups.
      
  • Administrative capacity impacts funding effectiveness as some organisations possess better infrastructure and expertise to implement health programs successfully than others.
Show Worked Solution
  • Population health data guides funding priorities by identifying groups with the greatest health disparities and highest disease burden.
  • Epidemiological evidence reveals mortality and morbidity patterns that inform resource allocation decisions.
  • For example, higher cardiovascular disease rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples necessitate increased funding for culturally appropriate prevention programs.
      
  • Geographic accessibility influences funding distribution as remote and rural populations require different service delivery models.
  • Distance from healthcare facilities creates additional costs for mobile services, telehealth infrastructure and specialist visits.
  • This results in higher per-capita funding requirements for geographically isolated communities compared to metropolitan areas.
      
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis determines optimal resource allocation by comparing intervention outcomes with financial investment.
  • Prevention programs demonstrate better long-term value than treatment-focused approaches because they reduce future healthcare costs.
  • For instance, immunisation programs prevent expensive disease management while smoking cessation initiatives reduce cardiovascular treatment expenditure.
      
  • Political and social considerations affect funding decisions through community advocacy, media attention and electoral priorities.
  • Visible health issues attract greater public support and government commitment resulting in disproportionate funding allocation.
  • However, this can lead to neglect of less publicised health problems affecting smaller population groups.
      
  • Administrative capacity impacts funding effectiveness as some organisations possess better infrastructure and expertise to implement health programs successfully than others.

♦♦ Mean mark 44%.

HMS, HAG 2013 HSC 23

Why is it important to prioritise particular health issues in Australia? Include examples in your answer.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Prioritising health issues ensures efficient resource allocation to areas with greatest impact on population health. Limited healthcare funding requires strategic distribution to maximise health outcomes across diverse community needs.
  • Addressing health inequities becomes possible through targeted interventions for disadvantaged groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience significantly higher chronic disease rates, requiring focused programs and culturally appropriate services.
  • Prevention focus enables early intervention before conditions become severe and costly. Cardiovascular disease prevention through lifestyle programs costs less than treating heart attacks and strokes requiring emergency care.
  • Population burden guides priorities toward conditions affecting large numbers of Australians. Mental health conditions impact millions annually, justifying substantial investment in awareness campaigns, treatment services and community support programs.
  • Evidence-based planning ensures interventions target conditions with proven treatment methods and measurable outcomes, improving overall healthcare system effectiveness.
Show Worked Solution
  • Prioritising health issues ensures efficient resource allocation to areas with greatest impact on population health. Limited healthcare funding requires strategic distribution to maximise health outcomes across diverse community needs.
  • Addressing health inequities becomes possible through targeted interventions for disadvantaged groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience significantly higher chronic disease rates, requiring focused programs and culturally appropriate services.
  • Prevention focus enables early intervention before conditions become severe and costly. Cardiovascular disease prevention through lifestyle programs costs less than treating heart attacks and strokes requiring emergency care.
  • Population burden guides priorities toward conditions affecting large numbers of Australians. Mental health conditions impact millions annually, justifying substantial investment in awareness campaigns, treatment services and community support programs.
  • Evidence-based planning ensures interventions target conditions with proven treatment methods and measurable outcomes, improving overall healthcare system effectiveness.

HMS, HAG 2016 HSC 15 MC

Which of the following is an example of an indirect cost of chronic disease?

  1. Purchasing medicine
  2. Bulk billing a visit to the doctor
  3. Purchasing a gym or health club membership
  4. Training replacement workers to cover sick days
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: Training replacements is an indirect cost affecting workplace productivity.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Medicine purchases are direct healthcare costs.
  • B is incorrect: Doctor visits are direct healthcare costs.
  • C is incorrect: Gym memberships are direct personal health expenses.

HMS, HAG 2018 HSC 19 MC

The graph shows (government) expenditure for patients admitted to hospital in Australia, by age, for 2012–2013.
 
 

Which of the following is most likely to be responsible for admitted patient expenditures over $2500 million?

  1. Mental health and injuries
  2. Mental health and respiratory diseases
  3. Cardiovascular diseases and injuries
  4. Cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution

  • C is correct: Cardiovascular diseases and injuries require expensive treatments and affect older age groups with highest expenditure.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Mental health typically requires less expensive hospital treatment than cardiovascular diseases.
  • B is incorrect: Mental health expenditure is generally lower than cardiovascular disease costs.
  • D is incorrect: Respiratory diseases are less expensive to treat than injuries requiring surgery.

♦♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 36%.