Identifying gaps in primary care services: reaching the ‘unreached’

Abstract

In an equitable system, the health needs of communities are matched by the services provided. Whilst a recent review of the performance of the health systems of seven countries by the Commonwealth Fund reported that ‘Australia and the U.K. continue to demonstrate superior performance’, it is important that health services provided to Australians are able to be utilised by all who need them. This RESEARCH ROUNDup investigates the concept of equity in health, endeavours to describe those who are most likely to be ‘unreached’ by primary health care services, and how they may be identified