Preventative Health passes
November 18, 2010
THE reworking of the Australian
health system has taken a major
step forward with Federal
Parliament voting to pass the
National Preventative Health
Agency Bill 2010.
The passing of the legislation
enables the formation of the
Agency which will lead the fight
against preventable diseases
caused by obesity, tobacco and
abuse of other substances, through
targeted campaigns.
The move has been welcomed by
industry stakeholders, with the
Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia’s ceo Liesel Wett saying
the agency was a “pivotal part of
the Government’s health reform
process.
“Pharmacists across all sectors of
the profession have a wealth of
expertise, skills and experience with
which to help the agency meet and
even exceed its targets and those of
the Government’s health reform
agenda,” Ms Wett said.
“The PSA will work closely with
the agency to ensure the pharmacy
profession’s skills and expertise are
fully utilised in providing consumers
with access to quality health
services, particularly in the area of
prevention and early intervention of
chronic diseases,” she added.
At present it is estimated that
over 60% of Australians aged 18
and upwards are overweight, whilst
potentially avoidable diseases
account for around 20% of the
nation’s health care expenditure.
“Our health care system has long
struggled with the increased burden
of chronic disease, however the
establishment of the Preventive
Health Agency puts Australia firmly
on the path to true health reform,”
said the President of the Royal
Australasian College of Physicians,
Australasian Faculty of Public
Health Medicine, Associate
Professor Leena Gupta.
“This initiative will help thousands
of Australians who fall prey to
preventable conditions and ensure
that those already affected do not
further deteriorate,” she added.
The Agency will commence
operations from the first half of
2011, and will bring together
some of Australia’s leading experts
on chronic disease to work on
three targeted campaigns
including: a social marketing
program aimed at addressing both
tobacco and obesity; a preventative
workforce strategy and audit; as
well as a preventative health
research fund.
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