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Highlights of Government Support for Diabetes 1999 - Introduction

This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.

Introduction

This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.

Australia has a federal system of government within which the roles of the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments differ. The Commonwealth has a broad policy leadership and financing role in health matters including the collection of the Medicare levy. The States and Territories are largely responsible for the delivery of public sector health services and the regulation of health workers in the public and private sectors including controlling the registration of medical practitioners, nurses, dentists and most other health professionals.

A strong private sector also operates with substantial direct and indirect government subsidies. Non-government not-for-profit organisations play a significant role in health services, public health and health insurance. Diabetes Australia, for example, is provided with an annual grant by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to administer the National Diabetic Services Scheme.

In addition to the levels of governments and interest groups involved in planning and delivery diabetes services are the range of health professionals required to manage this complex, chronic condition. Diabetes affects a number of organs in the body and its management can involve specialists in the field of endocrinology, nephrology, cardiology, obstetrics, ophthalmology as well as allied health professionals including diabetes educators, dietitians and podiatrists.

With such a wide range of involvement in the planning and delivery of diabetes prevention and management services, there is a clear need for effective information dissemination on diabetes initiatives to minimise duplication of effort and maximise coordinated action. This report is one vehicle for progressing this dissemination.

This document highlights significant and innovative activity supported by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments in reducing the diabetes burden.
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The facts

Diabetes affects an estimated 700,000 Australians, many of whom do not even know they have the disease.

If undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, heart attack, stroke and impotence.

The costs

The estimated cost of diabetes to the national health budget is more than $1.2 billion a year - about $3,000 a year for every person diagnosed with the disease.

The human and social costs, including restricted participation in the workforce and community, are even higher.

The risks

Generally, the risk of developing diabetes increases with age.

The disease can also affect women during pregnancy, leading to complications for both mother and child.

Certain population groups, notably indigenous Australians and some ethnic groups, have higher rates of diabetes.

Many cases could be prevented or delayed through simple lifestyle changes that lower the risks of diabetes and other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

These risks include excess weight, poor diet, inactivity, smoking and too much alcohol.

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The outlook

With an aging population and increase in risk factors, the number of people with diabetes will double in the next 10 to 15 years if urgent action is not taken.

Medical care, combined with early diagnosis, education and healthy lifestyle, can reduce or even prevent the complications of diabetes.

Advances in research have boosted knowledge about the disease while a range of innovative Australian initiatives is improving the organisation and delivery of diabetes prevention, early detection and effective care.

The plan

In response to the growing impact of diabetes on the Australian community, the nation's Health Ministers included diabetes as the fifth National Health Priority Area in 1996, joining cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health and injury.

Extra funding was allocated to support a national initiative to improve the outcomes for people with diabetes.

In 1998, the National Diabetes Strategy and Implementation Plan report was developed to provide a framework for funding, planning, providing, organising and monitoring of services for people with or at risk of diabetes.

Health departments across Australia are now collaborating on the development of a National Diabetes Strategy and supporting Management Plan for addressing diabetes in Australia over the next five years.

The aim is to achieve coordinated and integrated national effort on helping to prevent people from developing diabetes and assisting people to manage their disease in the most effective manner.

This national effort must be matched with individual efforts to improve lifestyle if we are to reduce the enormous personal and public health burden of diabetes as we enter the new millennium.

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