Australian Medical Association

The costs associated with lifestyle related disease are increasing, evidence suggests that using financial incentives and disincentives with patients can encourage preventive health behaviours.

The costs associated with lifestyle related disease are increasing. Evidence suggests that using financial incentives and disincentives with patients can encourage preventive health behaviours. This AMA background paper outlines the currently available research on when financial incentives and disincentives are likely to be effective, and when they are not.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, today said the creation of the National Preventative Health Agency was an important first step towards reducing preventable chronic diseases in Australia.

Dr Pesce said the AMA urges all Senators to support the Australian National Preventative Health Agency Bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives.

“A growing number of Australians are at high risk of serious diseases and premature death due to excess weight, smoking and alcohol use,” Dr Pesce said.

“The proposed National Preventative Health Agency is a significant first step in a strategic national approach to reducing preventable chronic diseases.”

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the AMA supports a national strategic approach to prevention as set out in the report of the National Preventative Health Taskforce.

Dr Pesce said that doctors have been actively involved in providing preventive healthcare and advice for smoking, alcohol abuse and excess weight for a long time, and will continue to do so, but they will need greater support in providing prevention plans for patients to meet the targets set by the Taskforce.

“The AMA advocates a comprehensive package of preventive measures to be coordinated by doctors, and general practitioners in particular,” Dr Pesce said.

The Medicare rebate system should be reformed to enable General Practitioners to spend more time helping patients to avoid preventable health problems, the AMA said today.

AMA Federal President, Dr Andrew Pesce, used General Practice Week to highlight the important role GPs play in preventive health care.

“A recently-released Australian Institute of Health and Welfare/University of Sydney report showed an increasing number of patients who present to GPs are overweight or obese and more people are requesting check-ups,” Dr Pesce said

The AMA has written to Federal MPs and Senators urging them to support a number of key policy measures to reduce preventable health problems linked to excessive alcohol use, obesity and smoking.

The AMA has taken this step in anticipation of the blueprint for national prevention that the National Preventative Health Taskforce will soon provide to Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

“A growing number of Australians are at high risk of serious diseases and premature death due to excessive alcohol consumption, excess weight and smoking,” AMA Federal Vice President, Dr Steven Hambleton, said.

“Doctors play a big role in helping people avoid these risks, and this role could be strengthened if the right supports are put in place by governments.

The AMA has made a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing in response to the report released by DoHA on the outcomes of the Point of Care Testing (PoCT) trial in general practice.

This submission responds to the options for prevention of obesity, smoking and harmful alcohol use that are explored in the National Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper - Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020. The submission emphasises the crucial role of doctors in providing preventative health care.