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AMA Calls For More Bariatric Surgery Places
THE State Government should fund more places for bariatric surgery to help improve the health of at-risk Victorians, according to AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates.
“The waiting times for bariatric surgery at public hospitals can be years, putting the patient at risk of developing further complications during this time.
“It needs to be remembered bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery. People do not choose to be morbidly obese, surgery is often a last resort. These are people with a serious medical condition, being forced to wait an unacceptably long time.
While it is vital the government looks at obesity prevention strategies, additional funding for at least 500 extra procedures a year for bariatric surgery needs to be made available, Dr Yates said.
“This would help to reduce the backlog of people who have been waiting an excessively long time.
“This could also help reduce the ongoing costs associated with obesity.
“For example, obesity can often lead to type 2 diabetes. A person with type 2 diabetes on average, has health costs of $10,000 per year. However, 80 per cent of obese people with type 2 diabetes who have undergone bariatric surgery have recovered from diabetes.
“The maths are simple, a one off cost of $10,000 for surgery or ongoing funding of $10,000 per year for the rest of these peoples’ lives. If more of these surgical procedures were funded, substantial amounts could be saved, and used for other health initiatives.”
Dr Yates said while it is vital this surgery is available now for people whose health is already at risk, long-term the government must look at obesity prevention, focusing on education, exercise, nutrition and infrastructure, promoting a healthy lifestyle from childhood.
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