Literature Review on Inequality in Health Care

It is well recognized that economic and social disadvantages lead to a detrimental consequence and risk of mental disorder (Isaacs et al., 2018). World Health Organization (2013) reports and fosters calls through its WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020 to direct attention to the disadvantaged group. Caron et al. (2012) show that the increase in income inequality and poverty pose negative psychological distress and mental health. Several studies have argued that the communities at the lower economic level are generally more exposed to health risk factors as well as psychological distress (Isaacs et al., 2018; Godding, 2014). 

The scholars examining the health inequalities are instrumental to draw attention to the health of economically and socially vulnerable groups in Australia. These researches have fostered the discussion of the public health action and have encouraged the greater and targeted investment in the healthcare sector, ensuring delivery of the public health services (Hashmi, Alam, & Gow, 2020). Primarily, the research on the health inequalities helps enrich the individuals understanding related to the social disparities in individual’s health, integrating into other markers, such as caste, gender, religion and occupation that leads to compromised health and the quality of life (Meadows, Enticott, & Rosenberg, 2018). 

One of the major countries experiencing health inequalities in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), that although the life expectancy of Australians is of 82 years, as well as the lowest mortality rate, there exists a substantial number of cases related to the age-standardized mortality rates (Godding, 2014). Godding (2014) stated that, in Australia, individuals that reside in rural areas have a mortality rate higher than major cities, i.e., 1.4 times. It also showed that Indigenous Australians had twice the mortality rate as compared to non-Indigenous Australians. A similar situation has continued to prevail for the last 10 years only, however, a comprehensive understanding of it is critical. Previously only Goddin's (2014) study has investigated the inequality in the healthcare sector of Australia. The time gap, population growth statistics, and the developments in the region have substantially changed from then. Thereby, to bridge this gap, this research intends to study the inequality in the health sector in Australia. 

Moreover, given the increasing inequality in the Australian wealth and income, and its continual gradual increase in the long-run given the Gini Index, which has increased to 34% in 2010 from 31% in the 1980s (The World Bank, 2017).