Which is a limitation of the biomedical model?

• A. Relies on professional health workers and medical technology; it is expensive and can treat a limited number of patients per day
• B. It emphasizes prevention
• C. It addresses social determinants effectively
• D. It reduces suffering and increases HALE

Answer: (A)

The limitation here is tied to how the biomedical model delivers health care. It centers on diagnosing and treating disease using medical technology and trained professionals, which makes it costly to run. The need for specialized staff, equipment, and facilities means only a finite number of patients can be seen each day. This high expense and limited throughput create access barriers and inequities, especially for people in rural areas or with fewer resources. While it excels at curative care, it often overlooks prevention and the social factors that influence health, so its overall impact on population health and healthy life expectancy is restricted unless paired with broader public health and social interventions. In Australia, these capacity and cost pressures illustrate why relying solely on this model isn’t enough to improve health outcomes across the whole community.