The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has supported calls for publicly funded weight-loss programs to be made available to all Australians.
The Federal Parliament’s House Standing Committee on Health and Ageing has been conducting its Inquiry into Obesity in Australia since March this year.
Linda Selvey from Queensland Health told an inquiry hearing on Wednesday that Medicare rebates should be made available for accredited weight control programs.
PSA Vice-President Shane Jackson supported the overall concept of the Federal Government funding accredited weight-loss programs as part of its focus on preventive-health policies.
"Models involving government funding could provide consumers with better access to evidence-based weight-loss services," Dr Jackson said.
"Unfortunately, we know that the cost of participating in weight-loss programs can provide a disincentive for consumers and a Federal Government-funded program may go some way to making these programs more available to those at need.
"A requirement for accreditation would also ensure that the programs being offered are evidence-based and of the highest standards.
"There are several high-quality, evidence-based weight-loss programs already being offered through community pharmacies and they are proving popular with consumers.
"We've seen that consumers are already turning to community pharmacies to provide weight-loss services, a nationally coordinated and funded scheme would further improve access and lock in the highest quality standards.
"The community pharmacy sector offers a cost effective vehicle for the dissemination of key public health messages because it combines local accessibility, access to a health professional's advice, availability of therapeutic products and professional service.
"The distribution of obesity related information and the identification and enrolment of target group consumers into weight-management programs already work well in the community pharmacy setting.
"Pharmacists are well equipped to participate in the dissemination of important messages about obesity to the community and to follow-up with individual consumer-level interventions to complement the role of medical practitioners and other health professionals.
The Pharmaceutical Society also has well established programs and resources which could be used to deliver obesity related initiatives and messages and we would be keen to work with Government to meet the objective of reducing obesity and overweight in the community."
Note:
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the organisation that represents the professional interests of pharmacists across the nation. It provides standards of practice, education, training and practice support for pharmacists and helps members of the profession to deliver quality health care to consumers.