Sociology merely refers to the systematic study of social life, societal change, its origins as well as patterns of social interactions and the consequences of that relationship. Several theories are developed by the sociologist to elucidate in what way people and personalities figure society. The knowledge about sociology assists sociologist to outline key issues in the community such as differences in social statuses, gender inequalities, ranks, and poverty. In particular, the full understanding of sociological theories is the vital one to become a proficient health specialist. In this paper, we shall critically discuss the history of the health care for systems in Australia, hierarchy, and power, and the current nature and the strategies set aside by the Australian government to improve healthcare (Bastos, Harnois & Paradies, 2018). The essay also involves discussion on biomedical model, sociological theories like conflict theory, functionalism, Marxism, social constructivism, Weberian and Feminist theory. From these sociological theories, we get to learn and evaluate the social interactions, relationships, and behavior of persons in the country.
This paper will also evaluate the implications of the theory to the healthcare systems. There are those significant lessons which can be implied to the health care systems from the sociological theory. The paper will give a comprehensive report on the various researches done on the current situation of the health services and systems and try to give opinions on how to advance them. From the discoveries on the sociological theories and from other suggestions the paper provides an outline of how the medical specialists ought to apply the teachings into the health care systems of Australia. Health care is not an equal service to all Australian (Vimalananda EA AL, 2018). Some fewer unfortunate individuals are not able to acquire proper medication due to cost, and from the past, the government or the arms of power are not willing to offer any form of assistance. The question is, are these people not part of the country? How does the government expect them to survive without proper health care services?
Finally, an outline of how hierarchy and power being intrinsic to the current health care system in Australia can impact the health practitioners.
Australia has the most outstanding healthcare scheme and is among the paramount scheme in the entire continent. The scheme that caters for the Australian’s citizens and those who stay there is known as medical care short formed has Medicare. Medicare was established in the year 1984, and its primary objective was to ensure that residents of Australia could get medication in the public clinics freely (Reeve et al, 2018). Up to date, Medicare is operating, and a multiple of advancement has taken place has it will be discussed in this essay. The most significant issues to know is that Medicare health system receives financial from the government of Australia and the government also controls its operation and policies (Watts et al, 2018).
Australia nation has got different categories of government that have the mandate to providing finances to facilitate the operation of the health system which involves state government, the federal government, local government, and territory government. Another source of money is from the non-government organizations as well as medical charges made from the people who pay for medication using their own money. There are multiple of organizations that are responsible for offering health services which include: nurses, health practitioners, medical professionals, and hospital as well as clinics and all the government and branches outside the government association (Sutton, & Long, 2018).
According to the World Health and Organization, a healthy system involves all the activities which focus on improving, reestablishing as well as maintaining the health of the citizens. Hierarchy refer to the organization or arrangement of the individuals, items or objects depending on their levels or classes. Power, on the other hand, constitutes of the strengths that can be exercised to control matters. There are different categories of health care centers divided based on the kind of health care they able to render for instance the primary health care centers deal with minor cases of illness that have not gone to an advanced state while secondary health centers are capable of handling patients with superior conditions of illness. The biomedical model was established a long time ago and has been in existence since the mid-19th century, and it is practiced by the individuals that are health specialist in Australia. One of its primary focus is the biological aspect and examines how the sicknesses result in how day to day life. Also, it also looks the physical part and its contribution to the outbreak of disease. This model is very different in its views in comparison with the social model. This medical model focuses completely on biological factors and neglects ecological, community elements and psychological matters.
Sociological theory especially conflict theory can be used to enlighten the hierarchy and power amongst social classes. Conflict theorists adopt that community structure originates from conflict amongst social groups (Nicholson et al, 2018). Conflict theory focuses on the matters concerning inequalities in the societies which they perceive to have been brought by feudalism, capitalism, and socialism. Karl Marx is one of the earliest social theorists who proposed that industrial economy underpins average class power of the oppressed working class. Karl colleague known as Friedrich Engels showed the poor health of the working class in the business area which continues to bring about health inequalities (Hignett et al, 2018). The health professional working differences brought about by hierarchy and power is more magnified when it comes to the area like gender. However, conflict theory neglects the females and the medium class. Because Australian health care services involve a large percentage of the women in the labor force, its vital to reflect on the feminist views to comprehend all issues concerning the different gender and the function they have towards health care services (Baum et al, 2018).
Feminist theorists argue the significance of gender in comprehending health experience and health results. Its focus on the women and how they work in the healthcare sector, whereby we find most of the roles are allocated to them because they seemed to be more caring and committed to the work. Feminist explanation of community health principles demands the absolute governmental commitment to activities that are based in concern for the health of women, and that target to accomplish the objectives that they govern (Tong, 2018). Regrettably, Australia state seems to be very far from such a vision. In Australia state, much of the infrastructure of public health has been dismantled or is inadequately financed, resulting in severe influences upon the health of the mostly female who is very weak. Research shows that the leading positions regarding superiority or power are allocated to the men in the health sector or doctor while women are given the lowest ranks and are seen as if they are inferior in rendering their services pertaining health. Studies show that frequently women have been discovered to have a problem in making the decision as well as management. Nevertheless, about seventy-five percent of health practitioners are women mostly the nurses.
Functionalism theory. Functionalist were mainly interested in evaluating the efferent of social ranks and the impact of changes that occur when a society lives on hierarchy-based environment (Hoffrage, 2018). According to Emile Durkheim who developed this theory, a healthy community is the one who can function appropriately and is characterized by excellent stability. Emile, therefore, suggests that everyone should toil excellently in the positions given to them to achieve the best results. This implies that Australian health practitioners should put more effort so that they can offer quality services. The hierarchy of Australia health workers has got the leading position being held by a senior manager, and bottommost is the intern, so each one of them has a specified duty to attend to build functional communities.
Marxism theory. In accordance to Marxist, hierarchy, and power resulted from the increase of social capitalism where there was a large gap between the rich or employers and employees; where the employers had right to exercise power over their employees in their industries (Hill, 2018). The same thirst of desiring to rule over the other and be at the highest rank is affecting the Australian health system; whereby most of the health practitioners especially those with excellent skills as well level of education of good quality are now busy establishing their private hospitals. Research shows that the number of private health sectors in Australia outcompetes the government established health centers. On the other hand, remote and remote areas are suffering from inadequate health care services due to the reluctance of health workers to work in those areas. This freedom and power given to health worker leads to reduced services in health and turn health system into a profit-making business.
Social constructivism theory. Constructivist assumes that people way of development is determined by society because the communities work together to come up with a common decision. Similarly, on matters concerning health, constructivist argues that wellness and illness by what the societies believe to be the health or illness both physically and mentally. This implies to the health practitioners in Australia that it is essential to understand the organizations believes and their lifestyles so that they can be in a position to handle them sufficiently. Hierarchy in this theory is much value and outlines that in every society it is crucial to agree for something in common to help in achieving the set goals.
Weberianism theory. This theory was developed by Weber who in perceptions said that power is of different kinds which can either be political, economic or social ranks. Weber argues that to manifest power there must be one at the top position and below. In Australia health system, management and control of all the sectors of health care in the nation, the government has got power and authority in monitoring and dictating every activity especially regarding the utilization of funds in health (Pulker, Trapp, Scott, & Pollard, 2018). However, due to increased fees in the private sectors in the health department, some ways to counter with for the government money usage have been established to reduce its spending. The government is aware that even the private sector has got outstanding health services and hence citizens can access services in case the public sector is not meeting their intended needs.
Currently, the public health system dominates in the rendering medical services and also the private practitioners though not as much in the public sector. Medicare sponsors medication for all Australian individuals which as well extends to the Non-Australians who live their permanently (Azzopardi et al, 2018). Several divisions of health protection cover are categorized according to the area of work or profession and also depending on the amount of salary or earning in that particular occupation. There is also freedom towards individual’s decision on health coverage whereby one can opt to pay the cost directly on service delivery either in the private sectors or the public healthcare but also under sponsored price. As for the people who may be visiting the nation, their expenditures can be drawn from the transport assurance or according to any accepted medical means. Funds for supporting health department is collected through taxation imposed on the individual. People living in rural areas, however, have been showing a reduced performance in health.
In the year between 2014 and 2015, the government established a policy known as co-payment policy (Treweek et al, 2018) with an objective of solving the issues of financial constraints that was being experienced in the health sector. At that time the health care providers were complaining of poor pay and hence the state thought that this plan could help them cater to this. Similarly, the government wanted to retain the best-qualified doctors in the nation by paying them well to stop them from flying outside the state to seek a place where they can get good salary. This policy need was that the patient should cater for some of the health services rendered to them because initially, it used to be free. Funds were also needed for more research to do on the way to improve health. The policy however experienced rejection but afterward through consultation by the stakeholders it was modified and accepted. Now it is at work and generating money that is used to make every side of health the best. The government has also come up with scholarships to allocate to the medical students who will be trained on how to practice and work best in rural areas to ensure that people living there are receiving quality health care.
The health practitioner gets to understand the importance of providing health services of high quality in the societies. They are in a position to assist the department of health as well as the government of the nation. Most significant is for them to work tirelessly to ensure that individual despite the locality is in a position to get medical services. Another issue is that they need to move from one level to another patiently acquiring the vital skills from the experienced ones already in according to their area of specialization.
Conclusion
The essay has mainly touched on the history of the Australian health system, the structure, highlight of the order of the hierarchy and power in the healthcare sector. Described in detail the current health system of the country as well as the strategies being recently employed to improve the health system in the nation. It has also outlined the stakeholders of the health system and the impacts of the hierarchy and power to the healthcare practitioners relative to the sociological theories. The essay has evaluated the healthcare system of Australia broadly and therefore the health works together with the government should struggle to ensure quality services are available all the time.
References
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