We have much to share, but also much to learn, about providing truly universal health coverage
Ageing populations, overcrowded hospitals and emergency departments, increases in the numbers of people with chronic diseases and mental health concerns, consumer demands for improvements in health care services and access to new discoveries and technologies, struggling health budgets with a reduced focus on prevention and health promotion — these are just some of the global health challenges facing many countries, including Australia.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. World Health Organization. Health and human rights. Geneva: WHO, 2013. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs323/en/ (accessed May 2016).
- 2. United Nations. Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. New York: United Nations, 2015. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld (accessed May 2016).
- 3. United Nations. Sustainable development goals; 17 goals to transform our world. New York: United Nations, 2016. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ (accessed May 2016).
- 4. Kidd M, editor. The contribution of family medicine to improving systems: a guidebook from the World Organization of Family Doctors. Oxford: Radcliffe Health, 2013.
- 5. Kidd MR. Global family medicine and Australian general practice. Aust Fam Physician 2016; 45: 5.
- 6. Turnbull M, Ley S. A healthier Medicare for chronically-ill patients [media release]. Canberra: Australian Government, 2016. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2016-ley021.htm (accessed May 2016).
- 7. Harris M, Kidd M, Snowdon T. New models of primary and community care to meet the challenges of chronic disease prevention and management: a discussion paper for NHHRC. Canberra: National Health and Hospital Reform Commission, 2008. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/16F7A93D8F578DB4CA2574D7001830E9/$File/New%20Models%20of%20Primary%20and%20Community%20Care%20Final%20(M%20Harris%20M%20Kidd%20T%20Snowden).pdf (accessed May 2016).
- 8. Kidd MR. Family medicine and family health teams: how Brazil is tackling universal health coverage. Bangkok: World Organization of Family Doctors, 2013. http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/FromthePresidentavisittoBrazil.aspx (accessed May 2016).
- 9. Kidd MR. Cuba and Canada provide lessons on family medicine and universal health coverage. World Organization of Family Doctors, 2015. http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/FromthePresidentLessonsfromCubaandCanada.aspx (accessed May 2016).
- 10. Kidd MR. Something wonderful in the state of Denmark. World Organization of Family Doctors, 2014. http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/FromthePresidentSomethingwonderfulinthestateofDenmark.aspx (accessed May 2016).
- 11. Dansk Almenmedicinsk KvalitetsEnhed. About DAK-E. Odense: DAK-E, 2016. http://www.dak-e.dk (accessed July 2016).
- 12. National Health Service. National Institute for Health Research: School for Primary Care Research. London: NHS, 2015. http://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/school-for-primary-care-research.htm (accessed May 2016).
- 13. Netherlands School of Primary Care Research (CaRe). About CaRe: mission statement. Maastricht: CaRe, 2012. http://www.researchschoolcare.nl/en/about-care/mission-statement.aspx (accessed May 2016).
- 14. Russell G. Australia’s primary health care research needs an urgent check. Sydney Morning Herald 2016; 18 Apr. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/australias-primary-health-care-research-needs-an-urgent-check-20160418-go8xig.html (accessed May 2016).
- 15. Australian Government Department of Health. Programs and initiatives. Medical research future fund. Canberra: DoH, 2016. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mrff (accessed May 2016).
- 16. Kidd MR. China and the rise of the family doctor. Bangkok: World Organization of Family Doctors, 2014. http://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/FromthePresidentChinaandtheriseofthefamilydoctor.aspx (accessed May 2016).
- 17. Simoens S, Hurst J. The supply of physician services in OECD countries. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2016. http://www.oecd.org/health/health-systems/35987490.pdf (accessed May 2016).
- 18. Health Workforce Australia. Australia’s Health Workforce Series: Doctors in focus. Adelaide: Health Workforce Australia, 2012. http://www.medicaldeans.org.au/wp-content/uploads/australias_health_workforce_series_doctors_in_focus_20120322.pdf (accessed May 2016).
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.
Michael Kidd is the president of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), which owns the International Classification of Primary Care. He is past president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and executive dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University.