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Prevention better than cure
27 March 2008
AMA Victoria today welcomed the Productivity Commission call for a target of 20 per cent of health care spending to be invested in longer term preventive health care.
Commissioner Mr Mike Woods said today that investing in "wellness" and preventative strategies will help relieve the overwhelming demands on an industry which is experiencing a skills shortage crisis. Mr Woods said, "So let's invest more heavily, can we get to a 20 per cent expenditure on prevention - because that will genuinely start to take some pressure off the work force."
AMA Victoria President, Dr Doug Travis, echoed Mr Woods’ views, saying preventive health care requires more investment. “Whatever we can do to prevent illness will have a flow on effect of less investment in acute care for future generations.
“For example, the efforts to cut the level of smoking in the community over the past 20 years are providing massive savings today.
“If we can further reduce smoking, maintain a healthy weight, eat well and live safely the benefits will flow.”
Dr Travis praised the recent Victorian Government $600 million initiative, WorkHealth, as a step in the right direction. “Going into people’s work places to promote good health is a wonderful initiative that other states should be emulating,” Dr Travis said. “While the Victorian Government’s investment in preventative health does not yet meet Mr Woods’ target of 20 per cent, WorkHealth is a big step in the right direction.”
Dr Travis nominated further initiatives on smoking, better health for men, good nutrition and exercise as priorities for further investment in preventive health.
“The return on investment for preventive health care is well established,” Dr Travis said. “Awareness and early intervention are crucial to prevent small problems which can be managed effectively in the community becoming big problems that have to be managed in hospitals.
“The best thing you can do for your health is to build a good relationship with your general practitioner and work in partnership to improve your health.”
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