More Aussies cut back on GP visits, medicines and diagnostics due to financial strain

Pharma News: New research highlights the growing impact of cost-of-living pressures on Australians’ healthcare decisions, revealing troubling trends in delayed medical visits, medication adherence and diagnostic care.

The 6th Australian Healthcare Index (AHI) survey, conducted by Australian Patients Association (APA) and Healthengine, surveyed over 9,000 Australians. It found that 75% of respondents reported that cost-of-living increases have influenced their healthcare choices.

Out-of-pocket expenses for GP and doctor visits have emerged as the top challenge in Australian healthcare, marking the third consecutive survey in which this issue has been highlighted.

Sixty percent (60%) of participants reported fewer or delayed GP/doctor visits, with out-of-pocket costs rising to $80 per GP visit for 20% of individuals. Specifically, 57% of those aged 18-34 and 59% of those aged 35-49 noted visiting their GP less frequently due to financial constraints.

David Clarke, CEO of the Australian Patients Association, expressed deep concern over the survey’s findings.

“The results of our latest survey are the starkest yet. Delays and skipped appointments due to costs can lead to worsening health conditions and further strain on the system,” he stated.

He further highlighted that only 50% of participants reported being fully bulk-billed on their most recent GP visit, underscoring the inadequacy of current bulk billing availability amid rising cost pressures.

Additionally, increased costs led to delayed dental treatment (53%), postponed diagnostic tests or scans (32%), not buying needed medicines (28%) and delayed mental health support (26%).

Private health insurance costs emerged as the second-highest challenge, affecting 40% of respondents – a 10 percentage point increase since November 2022. Emergency department wait times, a consistent concern in past surveys, were noted by 41% of respondents as a significant issue, particularly among women.

There is also concerning data relating to surgeries. For people requiring Category 1 surgery (treatment recommended within 30 days), 53% had been waiting for 31 days or more. The corresponding figure from last year was only 42%. Of these Category 1 respondents, 15% had been waiting for more than a year.

Among Category 2 patients, 54% had been waiting beyond the recommended time, including 22% waiting more than a year. Meanwhile in Category 3, 34% were waiting beyond the recommended 365 days. This points towards hospital services under strain, with patients potentially facing adverse health impacts because of longer-than-recommended wait times.

These findings raise crucial questions about the overall impact on Australia’s health system and the potential downstream effects of delayed care and increased emergency department usage. The report suggests a need for a more comprehensive and honest discussion about addressing these systemic issues as we head to an election, to ensure equitable and affordable healthcare for all Australians.

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