Health Issue
The chosen healthcare problem is HIV and AIDS, which are closely related to each other and, without a specific treatment, may cause a patient’s death. Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome are terms that have various implications from sociocultural, biological, and environmental perspectives. For example, HIV attacks the immune system and kills CD4 cells, making it more complicated for the body to fight against other diseases (Heron et al., 2019).
AIDS is a more serious type of HIV when the organism slows down the development of CD4 (Heron et al., 2019). From the social perspective, it might be considered that people who have HIV or AIDS are homosexual or drug addicts. The rapid development of diseases is also seen in many developing countries with high poverty levels. Urbanization has caused a rapid growth of issues as people become more connected, and the transmission process has become more effective.
Determinants of Health Issues
In Australia, many determinants contribute to the development of HIV and AIDS. For instance, unsafe sexual acts and a lack of education at schools and universities cause the development of immune problems. Moreover, injecting drug use boosts the spread of HIV transmission as people do not sterilize needles (Heron et al., 2019). Discrimination factors also influence the process of testing and treatment. People might be afraid to go to the hospital and ask for help because of their skin color or gender.
Additionally, Australia is one of the developed countries, and the immigration process is massive in this part of the world. Therefore, new strains of HIV can be introduced to the country, making the prevalence process more difficult. Indigenous communities in Australia experience high rates of HIV and AIDS because of limited access to healthcare and cultural barriers. It is important to understand all types of determinants of healthcare issues to apply effective solutions and improve the quality of people’s lives.
Health-Related Systems
The described medical systems above provide different systems that cope with the problems of HIV and AIDS. Even though there is no treatment for AIDS, people with HIV can live a long life by using specific medications that support the immune system. GP doctors can suggest testing and diagnosing the problem if the patients are conscious of their health. Some of the testing plans are free for professional workers and students.
Moreover, the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) system can provide primary treatment for HIV and monitor the dynamics of changes (Edney et al., 2018). In case of an emergency and the development of AIDS, patients and their families receive psychological support from medical experts. This process usually includes counseling, mental health support, and peer health groups. Research programs are always run, and scientists are trying to find the most effective treatments for HIV and AIDS.
Australian Health System
Australia has a well-developed healthcare system that is available to a large population. People of different incomes and backgrounds can receive the relevant help and ensure they are supported. Primary care in Australia is a foundation of the whole system in the country, as individuals refer to the doctors of general practice who then decide the following steps of treatment (Edney et al., 2018).
Public hospitals are also available to the population, and in most cases, they provide emergency help when people cannot wait for appointments. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is also one of the healthcare segments that shows the fees across the country for different medical services (“MBS Online,” 2023). It allows you to find the cheapest testing procedures and choose a professional doctor who will follow the health records.
References
Edney, L. C., Afzali, H. H. A., & Cheng, T. C. (2018). Estimating the reference incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the Australian health system. PharmacoEconomics, 36, 239-252. Web.
Heron, J. E., Norman, S. M., & Yoo, J. (2019). The prevalence and risk of non-infectious comorbidities in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected men attending general practice in Australia. Plus One Collection. Web.
MBS Online. (2023). Australian Government: Department of Health and Aged Care. Web.