By medical reporter Sophie Scott
Australians may be living much longer, but health experts are sounding a serious warning, saying there are major challenges ahead, including increases in type two diabetes and obesity.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reform council, which was axed in the federal budget, has released its final report into healthcare reform over five years.
It has outlined six emerging areas of concern – chief among them are type 2 diabetes and obesity.
“We found almost 63 per cent of Australian adults are overweight or obese and 1 in 25 Australians are suffering from type 2 diabetes, a condition associated with obesity,” COAG reform council chair John Brumby said.
One quarter of people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have the disease and of those who are diagnosed, almost half do not effectively manage their condition.
The report has also found elective surgery waiting times for many procedures rose between 2007 to 2013, a result which is heavily influenced by an increase in New South Wales, where one third of all elective surgeries are performed.
In NSW, the waiting time for coronary artery bypass grafts has increased by 14 per cent.
“The reality is despite additional resources and efforts that governments have made in this area, waiting times continue to increase,” Mr Brumby said.
Another factor adding pressure to the health care system is the ageing population.
“In five years, the percentage of elderly Australians waiting more than nine months for high residential care rose from 3 to 14 per cent,” Mr Brumby said.
The council highlighted that one in five Australians have trouble with the cost of dental care and delay getting proper care because of the cost. In the most disadvantaged areas, the figure rises to one in four.
Experts also found there was an increase in preventable hospitalisation rates for vaccine-preventable and acute conditions.
Lung cancer diagnosis in women yet to peak
Lung cancer was singled out as an important issue requiring attention after the report found the rate of new cases in women rose a massive 88 per cent between 1982 and 2012.
The finding is consistent with a peak in female smoking rates in the 1970s and 1980s.
“As the rate of lung cancer among women is likely to have not yet peaked, there is a need for ongoing emphasis on early identification and treatment of this disease, despite the declining rates of lung cancer overall,” the report said.
Rates for men have fallen by more than 30 per cent over the same period.
Increased life expectancy among the good news
The report also highlighted significant improvements to health care over the five-year reporting period.
“Life expectancy has increased, emergency department waiting times are improving and smoking rates are falling,” Mr Brumby said.
The report has also found that the rate of heart attacks and strokes is down.
But while national smoking rates have dropped from 19 to 16 per cent, they still remain well above the COAG target of 10 per cent by 2018.
“The OECD has described Australia’s progress as astonishing and an example to the rest of the world,” Mr Brumby said.
“Another huge achievement is the fall in child and infant death rates which have dropped by 20 per cent from 2007 to 2012.”
The COAG reform council was set up to strengthen the performance and public accountability of governments, but was axed in the federal budget.
The council will cease operating on June 30 this year.
Do you know more? Contact investigations@abc.net.au