How are India and Australia improving health care at the margins?
Event Information
Description
Improving the health of rural and indigenous communities is a challenge for both India and Australia. In Australia the mean life expectancy for an indigenous person is 10 years less than for a non-indigenous person. Sociodemographic health inequities across India are large. Access to healthcare for remote Australian indigenous communities is poor. India has a shortage of 340,000 doctors, most severely in rural areas.
The charitable and government sectors in both countries have attempted to address such inequalities in a variety of ways, with varying degrees of success. The National Rural Health Mission in India and the National Indigenous Eye Health Program in Australia have developed models of care that demonstrate important lessons as to what works in both marginalised community contexts.
What can be learned about these experiences for improving health care among marginalised communities in India and Australia?
About the speakers:
Professor Hugh Taylor is the Harold Mitchell Professor of Indigenous Eye Health at the University of Melbourne. He will share his experiences in tackling avoidable blindness in Australia’s remote and indigenous communities. In particular, Professor Taylor will draw out lessons from scaling up approaches to promote eye health in remote Australia.
Rev Dr Mathew Abraham leads the Catholic Health Association of India, the second largest healthcare provider in India with more than 3,500 member institutions that care for more 20 million people each year. He will explore CHAIs approach to providing health and disability care to those who are disadvantaged by poverty, education and geography.
Chaired by Professor Glen Bowes, Associate Dean (Advancement), Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne
Note: one incorrectly email stated that this event would be held on March 26 but it will be held on February 26. We apologise for any confusion caused.
