IT MATTERS WHERE YOU LIVE: COMMONWEALTH, STATE AND TERRITORY POLICIES FOR ACCESS TO CARE FOR AUSTRALIANS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS
Javier Recabarren1,2, AMANDA DOMINELLO1,2, NICOLE SCHOLES-ROBERTSON3, ALLISON JAURE1,2, GERMAINE WONG1,2, JONATHAN CRAIG4, MARTIN HOWELL1,2 1Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia2Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia3School of Rural and Remote Health NT, Flinders University, Alice Spring, NT, Australia4College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Abstract
Background and Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the adult population in Australia. There are important disparities in the burden of CKD and the ability to access evidence-based healthcare. This study aimed to describe how Commonwealth, state and territory policies address access to care for Australians living with CKD with an emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people residing in rural/ remote areas.
Methods: We searched government health department websites for current policies up to March 2022 that addressed access to care for people with CKD. Policies were selected if they applied specifically or non-specifically to CKD. We conducted a descriptive analyses of the content of the policy documents according to the target population of the policies, and categorised into five domains based on a World Health Organization framework.
Results: We identified 101 policies: 27 Commonwealth, and 74 state or territory-based. Across the five domains, 36 were strategic frameworks or health plans, 6 addressed prevention and screening, 31 treatment and service provision, 26 financial assistance for patients, and 2 support for caregivers and living kidney donors. There was wide variation in the policies for people with CKD in the number and type across the jurisdictions. Only three policies were specific for people living with CKD in rural and remote areas and no policies were specific for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Conclusions: Despite the known disparities in the burden of CKD there are few policies addressing CKD disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Australians living in rural and remote areas. Policies that specifically address the barriers to accessing evidence-based care are required to reduce inequities.
Biography
Javier Recabarren Silva is a Research Officer at the Centre for Kidney Research at the School of Public Health, at The University of Sydney. Javier was awarded his PhD in 2022 in the field of political economy at the School of Social and Political Sciences, at The University of Sydney. His main areas of research are the analysis of health policies, the impacts of the social determinants of health, and the involvement of patients and caregivers in research.