Topic: Current Issues and Challenges in Community Health

Abstract

Globalisation has connected our communities, but it has developed in an ethical vacuum (Labonte et al 2005). We have seen how those in disadvantaged societies have been exploited in the context of economic 18harmonisation 19 and now our own communities struggle to 18harmonise 19 such things as the price of wheat and pharmaceuticals at great cost to their health. Healthcare costs are among the greatest challenges. Despite budget surpluses our politicians play a 18zero-sumgame 19 arguing the competitive advantage of military spending over healthcare spending. Monuments to illness rule, community care runs second best. To keep theatres running, we can 19t have extended care. If aged care resources increase, mental health services suffer. Takeaway clinical care sends people out the door into the arms of family members and volunteers, who are given only token amounts of compensation and insignificant amounts of respite for significant amounts of care.