Average cost per person of delivering population health programs by population health units

Outcome two // Efficiency KPI
Service six: Public and community health services

Rationale

Population health units support individuals, families and communities to increase control over and improve their health.

Population health aims to improve health by integrating all activities of the health sector and linking them with broader social and economic services and resources as described in the WA Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2022-2026. This is based on the growing understanding of the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to a person’s health status.

Target

The 2025-26 target for average cost per person of delivering population health programs by population health units is $31. Improved or maintained performance is demonstrated by a result below or equal to target.

Results

* The 2024–25 original result ($20) has been re-stated using the 2025–26 costing methodology, with no change to the reported performance against the target for that year. While the costing system was in place during 2022–23 and 2023–24, the costing framework and methodology applied in those years was not compatible with the current methodology and therefore could not be reliably re-stated.

Commentary

The methodology used to calculate this indicator was fully reviewed and updated to improve accuracy, which included some services previously classified as population health now being more accurately reported within general hospital services. 

Consequently, the reported performance demonstrates a change in methodology rather than underlying change in performance.