Doctors Central to Preventative Health Strategy

The AMA recently presented its submission to the National Preventative Health Taskforce that was established earlier this year by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, to develop a National Preventative Health Strategy for Australia.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the AMA welcomed the opportunity to respond to the options for prevention of obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse that are explored in the Taskforce's discussion paper, Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020.

Dr Capolingua said she was pleased that the Taskforce had endorsed many of the public health prevention measures the AMA had been advocating for some time.

"Doctors are integral to prevention in the health system," she said.

"Each and every encounter with a patient is an opportunity to protect patients from illness and help to prevent them from becoming sick. The Taskforce must recognise that this role needs to be appropriately supported.

"The idea of preventative care is nothing new for doctors - GPs in particular practise preventative care every time they see a patient.

"GPs are always on the look out for health risks and early-warning signs of disease. These cover nutrition and obesity, sun exposure, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, family history, environmental exposures, mental health issues and a myriad of factors that can impact on health and wellbeing in both the short and long term.

"Doctors are in a unique position to discuss preventative health with their patients and actively influence them to make healthy changes to their lives."

Approximately 88% of all Australians visit a GP at least once a year, and studies consistently show that doctors' advice commands a high level of credibility and respect from their patients.

Dr Capolingua said doctors had significant opportunities to address the health risks of a very large proportion of the Australian population, and to help people manage their own health better.

"If we are to seriously tackle the growing burden of chronic disease in this country then we need to make sure that the work of doctors, in preventing harm from obesity, smoking and alcohol use, is fully supported."

The AMA recommends to the Taskforce that doctors should be supported by:

• appropriately recognising the time doctors devote to preventative care with patients,
• enabling practice nurses to sometimes provide prevention advice to a patient for and on behalf of the doctor,
• supporting specific staff roles to coordinate preventative care for patients in a medical practice,
• distributing to doctors practical information about the latest best-practice techniques for addressing smoking, alcohol and weight problems, and
• supporting medical practices in providing group educational and preventative health sessions for patients. 

Dr Capolingua said it was also important that doctors’ expertise and practical experience were fully utilised in developing the public health prevention campaigns and initiatives in a national preventative health strategy.

The full AMA submission to the Taskforce can be viewed online at www.ama.com.au/node/4402

CONTACT:    Kirk Coningham        02 6270 5477 / 0417 142 467