Management of COVID-19 in the community and the role of primary care: how the pandemic has shone light on a fragmented health system

The Australian health care system is well regarded on the global stage in terms of the balance between investment in health care and outcomes delivered, particularly in terms of universal access, quality and safety. However, there is considerable fragmentation and poor coordination of care and communication between hospitals and primary care, which limits further improvement. Geographical barriers, workforce shortages and issues relating to acceptability of services limit health care access for residents of rural, regional and remote communities, Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders, and together with an inadequate focus on prevention, limit progress towards health equity.

Australian responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic through both public health responses and the acute health sector have been viewed as among the best in the world. Nevertheless, challenges in the structure, organisatIon and financing of the Australian health care system have been brought into stark relief by the evolution of responses to the pandemic...