7,000 premature deaths because of growing health divide
Today, Federal Health Minister Tony Abbot released a report from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, concluding 7,000 poor and indigenous people a year are dying prematurely owing to the growing inequalities in the Australian health care system. The College sites this problem between the rich and less well off as ‘One of the most pressing health problems facing Australia today.’ According to ‘Inequity and Health A Call To Action’ the findings show a correlation between life expectancy and prosperity and these discrepancies are growing. In fact, in some areas of the country for the less well off, life expectancy rates were no better than they were in the 50’s. Dr Richard Dennis, Deputy Director of the Australian Institute spoke to Ollie Abraham about the reasons for the disturbing figures.