Overview
There is a dilemma: increasing technological capability and scientific insight have allowed more and more healthcare intervention to take place, more patient complaints to be treated and life expectancy to be extended. But, because of demographic changes, serious economic challenges and increasing healthcare burdens as a consequence of our lifestyle choices, the nation may not be able to generate the wealth necessary to support the healthcare that people might expect or hope for.
In short, the current system is not sustainable; the search for solutions is imperative. Healthcare extends to prevention as well as cure and the model below is illustrated over the following headings.
Figure 1 – spectrum of healthcare