In what could be one of the most cost efficient of health investments, the organisation Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) is seeking $7 million in Federal Government research funding that could save the health budget more than $175 million per year.
The call follows the release of a new report, The impact of allied health professionals in improving outcomes and reducing the cost of treating diabetes, osteoarthritis and stroke, which evaluated the economic impact of eight allied health interventions for people with these common health conditions.
The report was prepared for SARRAH, the peak body representing rural and remote Allied Health Professionals, by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia.
“It must be emphasised that this is a conservative estimate of the potential benefit of allied health to only eight specified outcomes arising from diabetes, stroke and osteoarthritis,” said SARRAH’s CEO, Rod Wellington.
“It does not include the numerous other areas in which allied health makes a significant contribution: particularly in the prevention and management of chronic disease, and recovery and rehabilitation,” he said.
The report also found that a significant number of negative health outcomes such as lower limb amputation and kidney failure were reduced when patients are treated by allied health professionals.
“This report demonstrates that all Governments need to invest in allied health services to keep Australians healthy and reduce the impact on government health budgets,” Mr Wellington added.
SARRAH is calling on Canberra to build on this research and fund economic evaluations of a wider range of allied health services.
“The research found that a stronger evidence base is needed to identify the scope of savings to the health system if allied health interventions are used to manage chronic disease,” Mr Wellington said.
