By Tess Ikonomou in Canberra

AUSTRALIA is spending billions on a “sickcare” system that is failing to prevent chronic disease, as elective surgery wait lists blow a $4.6 billion hole in the economy every year. 

The Australian Medical Association is calling for an overhaul in framing investment in health care.

In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, AMA president Steve Robson will make the case that improving health outcomes for Australians will drive growth and lift productivity.

“Our current approach to investing in and managing health is focused very much on treating poor health outcomes not preventing them, which leads to a ‘sickcare’ rather than healthcare system,” Prof Robson said.

“We need to reframe our thinking and focus more on how the money we invest in health care can improve health outcomes and support economic growth… keeping people healthy reduces the costs.”

A report released before the speech warned while Australia had a high life expectancy compared to other developed countries it lagged behind in prevention of chronic disease and access to timely care.

“Patients are now waiting longer than ever for care, due to health workforce shortages, increased demand for care and a backlog greatly worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said.

“We are now seeing patients presenting with more advanced disease and conditions as a direct result of missed opportunities for prevention and early intervention.”

Bolstering general practice, which is described in the report as the cornerstone of a high-quality and equitable system, is part of the AMA’s blueprint for shifting Australia to holistic health care.

“A well-funded and resourced general practice sector is pivotal to improving the health outcomes of individuals and communities and can create significant savings through better care, greater efficiency and reducing the burden on other more expensive parts of the healthcare system,” the report read.

More than $21 billion would be saved over four years by investing in primary care for people aged over 65 and aged care residents, through preventing hospital admissions.

The report found public hospital elective surgery waiting lists were costing the economy about $4.6 billion each year.

Australia spent $247.4b on health in the 2020/21 financial year.

A tax on sugar-sweetened drinks would reduce consumption by almost a fifth which is up to 43,804 tonnes of sugar and raise revenue of up to $749 million each year.

Reducing chronic diseases would save up to $1.73 billion in health spending.