7
September 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
Impact of ‘coughs and colds’ imposing heavy burden on
overstretched GP services, study finds
New research into the impact of minor ailments on general practitioner (GP)
workload shows that the resources devoted to coughs, colds and other minor
ailments could free-up the equivalent of 1,000 full time GPs
to treat more serious
health problems.
The study also identifies some $260 million in ‘waste and resource misallocation’ as
a result of Medicare benefits associated with GP treatment of minor ailments.
The study
commissioned by the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) and
conducted by health economist David Gadiel says that by shifting treatment of some
minor ailments to pharmacies, between 500 and 1,000 full time equivalent GPs could
become available, equal to between 3% and 7% of the Australia-wide full time
equivalent GP workforce.
The study is based on only the ten most frequently treated minor ailments which
account for 58% of all GP attendances attracting Medicare benefit for minor
ailments, and which represented some 15 million GP consultations in 2007-08.
It builds on
earlier work by international health industry consultants, IMS, showing
that 21% of all GP consultations involve the treatment of minor ailments, equivalent
to 25 million GP consultations in 2007/08, or approximately 70,000 each day.
The Executive Director of ASMI, Juliet Seifert said
the findings demonstrate the
significant national health benefits that could accrue through better use of GP time
and expanded self care in pharmacies.
“In the face of a severe national shortage of GPs, it makes sense to look at the
benefits from moving some minor ailments away from overstretched GPs and into
pharmacies, allowing GPs to concentrate on more urgent primary care needs.
“This would free-up GP time, make more appropriate use of pharmacists’ skills and
better use of our national health workforce,” Ms Seifert said.
The most common minor ailments identified in the study were acute upper
respiratory tract infection, back pain, diarrohea
and gastroenteritis, joint pain,
coughs, viral infection, malaise and fatigue, headache and constipation.
2
Approximately half of
all patients presenting at a GP for the 10 most frequently
treated minor ailments were also treated with a prescription.
In fact, many minor ailments are suited to responsible self care or consultation with a
pharmacist, as are some routine procedures such as refilling of prescriptions.
“There is a real need to examine alternatives to costly GP
consultations for minor
ailments and other conditions that can be more effectively managed once diagnosed.
“There is a role for Government through literacy programs to enable consumers to
better understand the options available to those with minor ailments, as well as a
need for
resources to help
GPs inform patients who present with such
conditions,”
Ms Seifert said.
Acting President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Mr Grant Kardachi, said
the Pharmacy Self Care program, which specifically targets many preventive health
care issues and works to improve health literacy, should be recognised as a pillar in
the Government’s preventive health-care strategy.
“We have the infrastructure and expertise in place. The Government doesn’t have to
reinvent
the wheel.
The groundwork has been laid and the PSA is ready to work
with the Government to ensure its preventative care strategy is successful.”
“PSA supports the Quality use of Medicines, which enhances access to appropriate
medication and delivers cost-effective health outcomes,” Mr Kardachi said.
Ms Seifert said the best use of scarce health
resources would suggest a shift to
pharmacy as the first point of call for minor ailments.
“It would allow doctors to apply their skills and training to best use in treating more
serious conditions as well as to longer term preventative health,” Ms Seifert said.
The
original IMS research was
based on the Australian Medical Index (AMI)
database containing de-identified GP patient records, encompassing data from more
than 182,000 patients, 1,020 doctors from around Australia and almost 280,000
consultations.
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About ASMI: The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI) is the peak industry
body for the Australian self care
industry representing consumer healthcare products including over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines.
ASMI’s mission is to promote better health through responsible self-care. This means ensuring that safe and effective self-
care products are readily available to all Australians at a reasonable cost. ASMI works to encourage responsible use by
consumers and an increasing role for cost-effective self-medication products as part of the broad national health strategy.
Media contact:
Bob Bowden, Foresight Communications (02) 9241 2811, 0412 753 298
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