Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA) says the use and further development of complementary medicines "provides an opportunity to counteract spiralling health care costs through more effective disease prevention and preventable chronic disease management".
CMA has joined its voice to the call for a greater focus on preventive health in Australia (PD 05 Sep) in the light of a recent poll by Research Australia which found 76% of Aussies "rank investment in preventive health among the top ten priorities for the Australian government".
Carl Gibson, CMA ceo said the government faces the difficult task of ensuring the fair and sustainable funding of healthcare in the face of an ageing population dealing with increasing levels of chronic disease.
"However consumers are keen to take a more active role in caring for their health, and they need to be supported via a shift in policy focus towards early prevention, encouraging healthy and active ageing, and empowering individuals to take control over their health."
Gibson said the results of the survey, along with the widespread use of complementary medicines, demonstrates that Australians are willing to invest in improving their health, and want to have an active role in their own personal healthcare.
"Cooperation and collaboration between policy makers,industry, health professionals and researchers is vital to ensuring that complementary medicines fulfil their potential of contributing to the overall health of all Australians," Gibson concluded.
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