KYLIE WOOLCOCK Acting Chief Executive AHHA
Looking beyond the healthcare system for answers to equitable access
Welcome to our first issue of The Health
way that is able to support good health for our
Advocate for 2022. Taking on the role of Acting
most vulnerable people.
CEO has prompted me to reflect on AHHA’s
Another example. Food insecurity as a
guiding principles for health care and how we
consequence disruption to supply chains, even
ensure these are embedded in every facet of
if temporary, saw the capacity for those on
our work. Equitable health care is one of our
lower incomes or in rural and remote areas face
guiding principles, yet equity in health requires
additional challenges to maintaining a healthy diet.
consideration much broader than just our health care system.
Health inequities such as these, driven by COVID, are exacerbated by pre-existing underlying health
During the pandemic, every policy decision to
determinants, even before we consider whether
limit spread and mitigate consequences of disease
people have access to affordable health care to
has highlighted health inequities within the system.
begin with.
For example, inequities in chronic disease
And the crisis is not over. Gaps in health equity
prevalence and their preventive care are a known
will only worsen if we do not also turn our
risk for adverse outcomes in those who contract
attention to health care that has been delayed or
COVID and have been exacerbated during the
deferred during the pandemic. The wellbeing of
pandemic.
our workforce in ‘catching up’ on non-COVID care
While for those living in densely populated
is also an essential consideration. Expectations
housing, or in insecure or precarious employment,
of a smooth transition to ‘business as usual’ are
social isolation has become a glaring issue; and
unrealistic.
public facing essential workers, often in lower-
We must consider a population health approach
paying roles, who have been at increased risk of
that includes working with providers at a local
catching COVID, are now experiencing poor mental
level to design models of care that are fit for
health outcomes.
purpose now, and not for the pre-pandemic era.
So, whether it was access to vaccinations
These models must allow us to rapidly ‘catch up’
and boosters, or PCRs and rapid antigen tests,
in priority areas without overwhelming an already
resources have not been made available in a timely
overwhelmed system.
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The Health Advocate • FEBRUARY 2022
