Report Confirms Death Rates a Continuing Disgrace

The study of Indigenous deaths from six chronic diseases between 1977 and 2001 in the Northern Territory, published in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia, found the increase in death rates slowed down towards the end of the 25-year period.

"Non-Indigenous death rates have decreased much faster over the same period of time," Dr Haikerwal said.

"And the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people has in fact increased, not decreased.

"The Government can drive a reversal of this story with a concerted investment across a wide range of sectors over at least the next 10 years."

In its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Report Card earlier this year, the AMA revealed that, despite some new investment, the shortfall in funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services has blown out to about $460 million a year.

"I repeat the AMA's recent call for a Federal Budget commitment to Indigenous health of $1.8 billion over the next four years," Dr Haikerwal said.

"This must be a direct and targeted investment that reaches all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and is available to all Aboriginal Health Services."

The new research, led by Dr David Thomas of the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, found the annual increase in death rates was slower after 1990 for both ischaemic heart disease and diabetes.

It showed that increases in death rates from other chronic diseases levelled off towards the end of the 25 years to 2001.

"It's possible that this is due to a greater financial investment and better delivery of health care in recent years," Dr Haikerwal said.

"That's great because it demonstrates that a much bigger financial commitment to Indigenous health has the potential to reap great rewards - improved health and longevity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."