A shocking new report has revealed the surprising illness Australian doctors treat more than any other.
More patients see their doctors over mental illness concerns than any other health issue, according to the General Practice Health of the Nation 2018 report released by Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
More than half – or 62 per cent of doctors – say they talk to patients about mental health more than any other disease with respiratory (45 per cent) and musculoskeletal (43 per cent ) issues being the second and third most commonly treated ailments.
A shocking new report has revealed the surprising illness Australian doctors treat more than any other
Doctors want to see more action to improve the health system including ‘support for access to care through Medicare, health, equity and equality, and social and cultural determinants of health’
The report draws on specifically commissioned research involving more than 1500 RACGP fellows.
Overall the two conditions have general practitioners concerned about the health and future of Australians.
There are more than two million appointments every week when it comes to people visiting their doctors, however, financial support is desperately needed.
‘Funding for patients to visit their GP makes up less than nine per cent of Australia’s annual health budget,’ Dr Harry Nespolon said.
Mental illness affects roughly four million Australians with eight people taking their own life everyday.
The country’s mental health services are underfunded, hard to access, and of poor quality, according to the not-for-profit organisation Australians for Mental Health.
‘For the second consecutive year, funding and mental health have been the major areas of concern for the profession, with financial support desperately needed in many areas,’ Dr Nespolon explained.
With GPs being the first point of contact for most patients, the report pushes for further action by the federal government to prioritise mental health.
Doctors want to see more action to improve the health system including ‘support for access to care through Medicare, health, equity and equality, and social and cultural determinants of health’.
For a second consecutive year this illness has been the most treated condition by Australian doctors