Health ‘investment’ – MA
December 9, 2010
MEDICINES Australia says that
government health spending should
be regarded as a “key investment
in Australia’s ageing population
and productivity, rather than a
burden on the public purse”.
Addressing the National Press
Club in Canberra yesterday, MA co
Brendan Shaw said investment in
new medicines and other health
technologies “will play an important
role in ensuring Australia’s ageing
population remains healthy and
productive”.
He said that health spending is
often not regarded in the same way
as spending on education “and it
absolutely should be.
“Medical technologies like
medicines and medical devices play
an important role in improving the
health of Australians as well as the
economy,” he said.
Shaw cited the example of new
treatments for arthritis, which would
allow sufferers to continue working,
while future treatments for
Alzheimer’s Disease could have
“significant cost savings for the
health system and carers”.
He also highlighted the way that
medicines keep patients out of
hospital, shorten hospital stays
when they are required, reduce the
number of surgical procedures and
delay the need for aged care.
“The chief problem is that the
benefits of medical technology are
not being given sufficient air time in
the debate over health spending,”
he said.
“Health budgets need to be
managed, but health also offers
great opportunities for society”.
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