Health Systems and Global Populations Research Group
Health systems around the world have shared concerns. The Health Systems and Global Populations Research Group looks at how health is constructed in the local and international communities, how health systems are designed and delivered, the evidence base for delivering better or responsive health services, and how health systems impact on populations. The issues examined have a broad context and application across countries.
Central to the Group’s approach is that it links social and behavioural scientists with health systems researchers and clinicians interested in the development of health policy. The Group’s overall aim is to build a strong multidisciplinary research base which influences attitudes, policy and practice.
The Group brings together a wide range of disciplines including health services researchers, social scientists, behavioural scientists and clinicians. This provides opportunities for close linkages with researchers who work in parallel fields both within the Group and internationally.
Some recent local and global factors that will influence health systems in the future include:
- The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) guidelines on health and wellbeing
- Recent decisions on the structure and financing of the Australian health system
- The recommendations of the Health and Hospitals Reform may substantially change how health services are delivered in Australia
- Regional initiatives in health care reform important for global health
- Population movements from civil strife and challenges presented by the global economic recession
- developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are looking for learning partnerships with countries like Australia.
Other drivers of change include:
- the shift to community based health care here and in other countries in our region
- citizens are better informed, for instance via the internet, and are making more specific demands of service providers
- an ageing population and the rise of chronic diseases.
- research on indigenous, complementary and alternative health therapies