Australia: special needs in health care--the aged

Australian health and welfare services have developed in an ad hoc fashion. In response to demands by interested groups within the community, governments have relied on fiscal control and political expediency to regulate the growth of services and benefits. The lack of comprehensive policies and adequate planning has resulted in legislative complexity and administrative fragmentation, which has adversely affected the development of effective health and welfare services for the elderly Australian. The nature of these difficulties is discussed and recommendations are made for their resolution.