So Australian Medical Association President Dr Michael Aizen thinks that “lifestyle changes alone will be insufficient to treat” the hypertension, high cholesterol, ulcer, pain, and other conditions that make up the $39.8 million paid out to subsidise Tasmanians’ on these drugs in 08/09 alone. ( Drugs Figures reveal Lifestyle imbalance, Sunday Tasmanian July 18 )
But Dr Aizen’s comments show the stupidity of our current health system. We spend billions of dollars trying to “treat” the diseases once they occur and virtually nothing on trying to prevent them from happening.
We know what causes most illness, we know how to fix them but why don’t we ? I’d Like to know what Dr Aizen thinks is the answer?
Heart Foundation Chief Graeme Lynch stated in the same article “ unless we address the causes of cardiovascular disease, it will not be sustainable in the long term”. I’d say it is not sustainable now. How many stories do we see daily in the media about the gaps in all government services, and not only in health?
While Doctors do some amazing things, they also have to start to take some responsibility for the current poor health of many in the community and start to change what they say and do about the problem.
Everyone needs to accept that you simply cant be healthy without regular exercise and a balanced diet, and that is not going to change regardless of changes in medical science. Exercise must be prescribed and monitored just like drug use currently is, as this will produce better outcomes than what we see at present.
While there is a role for Doctors and some medications, they are currently doing the wrong job well and the sooner everyone acknowledges this the sooner we can improve health outcomes.
But until we see real reform of the services we offer to actually prevent rather than treat cardio vascular disease and ensure that there is a greater level of personal responsibility to follow health guidelines, then what else will we see? More of the same!
I am sure that many will be saying that health is a key federal election issue, my question is “What does that mean?” More doctors prescribing more drugs and more hospitals with more beds or will we see resources allocated to actually prevent illness and incapacity? And hopefully something better than a telephone coaching service!