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Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia’s National Primary Health Care Strategy (the Draft Strategy) sets out a road map for the future.

Factsheet

The Draft Strategy has 5 key building blocks as essential system wide underpinnings:

• Building Block 1 – Regional integration:

  Establishment of strong regional organisations to drive service integration, education and training, and address local health needs through flexible service delivery and financing arrangements (including fund-holding models where appropriate).

• Building Block 2 – Information and Technology (including eHealth):

  Implementation of eHealth strategies, particularly Individual Electronic Health Records, and support of best use of technology to integrate care, improve patient outcomes, and deliver capacity, quality and cost effectiveness.

• Building Block 3 – Skilled Workforce:

  A flexible, well trained workforce with clear roles and responsibilities built around core competencies, works together to deliver best care to patients cost-effectively and continues to build their skills through effective training and team work

• Building Block 4 – Infrastructure:

  Physical infrastructure supports different models of care to improve access, support integration and enable teams to train and work together effectively.

• Building Block 5 – Financing and System Performance:

  Financing arrangements which focus on cost-effective interventions and use of information to drive performance improvement in both individual practice and system outcomes. Progressive realignment of funding arrangements to reduce reliance on fee for service and support alternative mechanisms to improve care underpins the Draft Strategy.

The Draft Strategy also identifies four priority areas where changes will most directly impact primary health care consumers and health professionals:

1. Key Priority Area 1 – Improving Access and Reducing Inequity:

   Currently access to quality primary health care services is not equal across the community. Reform is needed to ensure services are matched to people’s needs, and delivered through mainstream and targeted programs across an integrated service system that connects to specialist, acute and other sectors.

2. Key Priority Area 2 – Better Management of Chronic Conditions:

   With the growing burden of chronic disease in Australia, improved continuity and coordination of care is needed – through mechanisms such as chronic disease management programs linked to voluntary enrolment and local integration.

3. Key Priority Area 3 – Increasing the Focus on Prevention:

   As well as focusing on better managing chronic disease, the primary health care system also needs to focus more on preventing chronic disease – through more systematic approaches to preventive care, such as through more regular health checks for at risk groups, to identify potential problems early.

4. Key Priority Area 4 – Improving Quality, Safety, Performance and Accountability:

   The primary health care system in Australia needs a framework for quality and safety in primary health care with built-in mechanisms for measurement and feedback to drive quality improvement leading to better services.

In summary, the Draft Strategy, proposes:

• Universal access to MBS and PBS for episodic medical care;
• Targeted programs and better use of technology which improve outcomes for individuals;
• Integrated local solutions, focusing on active management of patients with chronic disease and ‘hard to reach populations;
• Well integrated, coordinated and available prevention activity, with regular risk assessment, support and follow-up;
• The ability for patients to access quality data to inform their choice of provider, practice or facility;
• Flexibility to improve outcomes and cost effectiveness.

More information

• Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia’s Primary Health Care Strategy
• Primary Health Care Reform in Australia: Report to Support Australia’s First National Primary Health Care Strategy