National prevention focus
January 10, 2011
THE start of 2011 has heralded a
new milestone in Australia’s
preventative health strategy with
the formal establishment of the
Australian National Preventive
Health Agency.
Designed to initiate and support
preventative health programs, the
Agency will be the Government’s
leading advisor on preventative
health issues.
“The Australian National
Preventive Health Agency will bring
together some of the best expertise
in Australia to gather, analyse and
disseminate the latest evidence on
ways to prevent chronic disease,” a
statement from the Department of
Health and Ageing said.
Key areas of preventative health
focus will include obesity and
substance abuse (including alcohol
and tobacco).
“Potentially avoidable diseases
account for around 20 per cent of
Australia’s total health care
expenditure,” said the Minister for
Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon.
“Supporting Australians to avoid
chronic diseases by leading
healthier lifestyles and reducing
the burden on our health system is
common sense,” she added.
Launched on 01 Jan 2011, the
Agency is currently developing a
five-year strategic and annual
operation plan for consideration by
Australian health ministers.
Heading up the operation
is transitional chief executive
officer, Dr Rhonda Galbally.
Galbally comes to the position
having spent ten years as the ceo
of VicHealth, and also serving as
ceo of ‘Our Community’, as well as
conducting the Galbally Review of
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled
Substances Legislation (published
in 2001).
The appointment has been
welcomed by The Pharmacy Guild
of Australia, with National President
Kos Sclavos saying Galbally is
“ideally qualified to steer this
important new body as it develops
its role in delivering the Federal
Government’s aim of keeping
people healthy and out of hospital”.
“The Guild is confident Dr
Galbally’s significant knowledge of
the schedules, and their role in
facilitating primary and preventive
health care, will contribute to her
ability to guide the new agency.
“Community pharmacists stand
ready to add further value to our
health system through an
enhanced role in preventive health
care,” Sclavos added.
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