Sociology with health is the study of social problems conducted in collaboration with colleagues in the healthcare sector, in an attempt to understand and address healthcare interactions, issues and challenges. Most importantly, healthcare access and equity to health services is fundamental for the population which is impacted by rural locations with a lack of access to relevant health professionals or the financial cost to seek healthcare services. The World Health Organisation provides a framework to assist countries in achieving adequate healthcare access for their population through Universal Health Coverage. The paper examines this framework and the healthcare systems in Australia and Japan and identifies problems to be addressed, priorities and policy recommendations. This sociological research work transcends the old dichotomy between sociology in medicine and sociology of medicine. It neither accepts uncritically the values and assumptions of the healthcare professions, as in sociology in medicine, nor are we disinterested observers on the outside in a position of neutrality, or even hostility, towards the healthcare professions, in the tradition of the sociology of health. The health workforce governance approach is conducted in line with a critical theoretical perspective in sociology characterised by political analysis and engagement, that is sociology with health.
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