Prevention ‘gaining traction’
August 30, 2013
The Australian Self-Medication
Industry says that its ongoing
discussions with policymakers on
how to shift the Australian health
system towards a preventative
model “seem to be gaining traction”.
In a letter published yesterday
in the Financial Review, ASMI ceo
Deon Schoombie backed a previous
editorial piece which “highlighted
the urgent need to stop the waste
in Australia’s health system so
that it can meet the challenges of
an ageing population and rising
chronic disease”.
He said that currently the core
approaches of the major political
parties continue to focus on a
“treatment model,” and called on
both sides of politics to “formally
integrate the expansion of self care
into their policy platforms”.
“Self care involves individuals
taking greater responsibility for
their health and wellbeing...under
such a model the emphasis is
on the individual in partnership
with healthcare professionals
(GPs, pharmacists, naturopaths,
dieticians and others),” he writes.
As a first step ASMI is advocating
a so-called ‘Self Care Alliance’ to
bring together existing stakeholders
as an authoritative source of
information on the issue of self
care, and how it can help people
better look after themselves.
“This does not entail government
expenditure, but a willingness to
engage,” Schoombie said.
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