Australian government would benefit from discussing how limited resources should be allocated between Olympic athletes, healthcare, education, defence and other national priorities, according to an article in the current issue of The Medical Journal of Australia.

On a per capita basis, Australia spent more than seven times as much on its Sydney Olympic team in 2000 as did Canada, to win four times as many medals.

A survey conducted by Dr Craig Mitton, Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Professor H Dele Davies, Michigan State University, USA and Professor Cam Donaldson, University of Newcastle, UK, highlights the need for more explicit discussion about funding choices and societal values.

Dr Mitton says the enthusiasm of sport-minded Aussies about spending money to mine Olympic gold may not involve a recognition that the cost includes forgoing spending on other activities, like health and education.

"Questions of funding do come up, and the debate over Medicare in Australia regularly spills into the popular press, but we rarely hear a politician stating that war is being funded at the expense of Medicare," said Dr Mitton.

"Or, perhaps of even greater concern, that current healthcare and Olympic pursuits take precedence over the fiscal health of future generations."

In 2000, Australia spent $2213 per capita on healthcare, or about 170 times what it spent on its Olympic team.

In comparison, with Australia Canada spends more per capita on healthcare, but receives a slightly higher benefit, in terms of life expectancy. 

The researchers ask the question, is the additional "benefit" represented by the extra Australian medals worth the additional expense?

"Before the public demands more funding for more medals, or governments pursue more healthcare funding through taxation, we need to examine what "benefit" is obtained for the given expenditures and how this compares with other uses of the limited resources available," Dr Mitton said.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT:     Dr Craig Mitton, (Available only by email but will check emails daily)  cmitton@cw.bc.ca

                   Judith Tokley, AMA     02 6270 5471 / 0408 824 306