A STUDY published today in the Medical Journal of Australia reports that Australia spends over $1.2 billion per year treating people with high blood pressure.
Patients' out-of-pocket charges account for 40% of the bill, with the taxpayer footing the remaining 60% through government subsidies and industry contracts.
Over half the cost ($611 million) was pharmacy fees for dispensing and handling medications, with GP appointments and purchasing medicines from manufacturers costing $342m and $221 respectively during the 2021/22 financial year.
"Two things struck us immediately: how much of the cost is going through pharmacy, and that patients are carrying an unfair share of the overall burden," said Professor Anthony Rodgers of the George Institute for Global Health, the lead author behind the study.
"While our concession system helps some consumers, these are real costs for people on lower incomes" he said, noting that many are living with additional health problems and may have to "face difficult choices about what medicines or health appointments they can afford".
"This puts their health at risk and is a fundamental barrier to Australia achieving better blood pressure control and avoiding the serious and more costly health problems down the track," Professor Rodgers said.
The estimates predate the 60-day prescribing program introduced in 2023, but with low uptake thus far, it's likely patients aren't yet getting the full benefit.
"Our data highlights a need for further policy interventions to reduce patients' out-of-pocket expenses," Prof Rodgers said.
High blood pressure is still the leading risk factor for death in Australia, as it is a leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. It's estimated that 34% of Australians have high blood pressure, but due to a lack of symptoms often go undetected.
A lack of widespread screening was blamed as a major factors in under-diagnosis, however the condition is readily treated with medication and improvements to diet and lifestyle, and reducing the rate by 24% could save about 37,000 lives annually.
About one in three people manage to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range, much lower than in nations like Canada where it's around 66% of people.
Australia's National Hypertension Taskforce has a stated goal to improve control rates from 32% to 70% by 2030.
"As Australia struggles with a hypertension crisis, our analysis provides a real-world snapshot of the scale of spending on the problem, and who exactly is footing the bill, to help decision-makers develop more affordable, equitable and innovative pathways to get the problem under control," Prof Rodgers said.
Read the full study HERE.
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