AMA calls on Senate to pass National Preventative Health Agency Bill to put spotlight on prevention
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the AMA is calling on the Senate to pass the National Preventative Health Agency Bill during this fortnight’s Parliamentary sitting period.
Dr Pesce said the National Preventative Health Agency would set a national strategic approach to prevention and promote healthier lifestyles by advising and making recommendations to governments on preventative health.
“It is important that this Bill is passed as soon as possible to put momentum back into the prevention focus in Australia,” Dr Pesce said.
“The Agency would be active in promoting healthier lifestyles through education and information programs highlighting the health risks of obesity, tobacco and alcohol in particular.
“The AMA wants the Agency to support the important frontline prevention work conducted by family doctors across the country every day,” Dr Pesce said.
To add weight to the AMA’s push for more action on preventative health, the AMA today released the AMA Position Statement on Doctors and Preventative Care 2010.
The Position Statement sets out how family doctors are the leaders in providing preventative care and advice to individuals and the wider community.
Dr Pesce said that doctors have unique skills and experience in identifying the presence of risks to individuals’ health, as well as the particular factors in their lives that contribute to those risks.
“For doctors, preventative care is core business,” Dr Pesce said.
“Each year, about 10 million patient consultations involve general practitioners providing preventative health and counselling advice.
“The opportunities for doctors to provide effective preventative care need to be supported and continually strengthened.
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to prevention consultations.
“We need funding models that will allow GPs to spend the necessary time with their patients to make sure that they can incorporate more preventative health strategies into health care plans, and to allow medical practices to undertake group education and preventative health sessions,” Dr Pesce said.
The Position Statement calls for targeted efforts, including public awareness campaigns, to encourage teenagers, young adults, and patients from at-risk groups to see their doctor for advice on preventative care.
“The benefits of the frontline work undertaken by family doctors in preventative care can be further maximised when individuals have the right level of health literacy to know when to see a doctor.
“Tailored education and information campaigns will help people understand more about their bodies and how risky behaviours and habits can damage their health and wellbeing.
“This capacity for health awareness needs to be built across the entire population, including among Indigenous Australians,” Dr Pesce said.
The Position Statement is available on the AMA website
16 June 2010
CONTACT: Geraldine Kurukchi 02 6270 5467 / 0427 209 753
Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464
Follow the AMA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/amapresident