Watching from afar, the new US regime’s changes to the management of healthcare, superimposed on an already dysfunctional system, elicit a sense of foreboding.

The US population already spends a huge amount of funds for relatively poor health outcomes, and the contrast between rich and poor is stark.

It is also a reminder that, although our system is far from ideal, the feature of universal access is precious to our community.

We have a lot to be thankful for, despite the limitations and frustrations.

Our disparities in access to good quality care may not be as stark as those of the US (except, of course for remote communities and Indigenous Australians), but there are pockets of workforce need that never seem to be satisfied.