Box 1.

A snapshot of health care in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic⁵

In 2021, a survey was distributed to 5100 Australian adults providing insights into health service use and satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed: 24% experienced serious psychological distress — these rates are higher than pre-pandemic population prevalence rates; 59% reported having ≥1 chronic condition; 14% of people with chronic conditions could not pay for health care or medicine because of a shortage of money; 66% had visited a GP in person in the previous 12 months, down from 85% in 2018; accessing needed care out of usual business hours was difficult for 34%, up from 24% in 2018; and satisfaction with GP services remained high (>80%).