NSW bottom of the league when it comes to public health spending

Figures in the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have revealed a few surprises.

It seems when it comes to spending on public health from federal and state government sources, New South Wales (NSW) is bottom of the league.

According to the report with a budget of $64.98 per person NSW falls well below the the national average of $71.40, with Queensland second from last with a budget of $66.80 per person.

While NSW compares favourably on spending for communicable disease control, breast-cancer screening and immunisation, where spending is above average, it is well below the average in areas including cervical cancer screening and health promotion campaigns.

The reports figures show there was a 2.4 drop in federal public health spending between 2004-05 and 2005-06; during that period, the only national alcohol-harm-reduction program was cut, contributing to a 61% drop in drug prevention funding.

Less than 2% of the national health budget was spent on public health in 2005-06, which includes immunisations, sexually transmitted disease control and cancer screening.

Despite the fact that alcohol kills three times more Australians than all illicit drugs, and smoking being the leading cause of preventable death, ten times more money was spent on fighting illicit drug use than preventing alcohol abuse and tobacco control only received $3.6 million to help smokers quit.

The report reveals only $1.2 million was dedicated to harmful drinking in 2005-06, while almost $11 million was spent on dealing with other drugs.

The reports figures show the state's spending in 2005-06 was 91 per cent of the national average and the figures are released at an opportune time as the new Labour Government ramps up the focus on public health.

Currently only 1.8 per cent of the health budget is spent on preventive health measures even though experts estimate one-third of diseases result from such preventable risk factors as tobacco, alcohol, poor diet and lack of exercise.

The federal Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, said the institute's report showed the previous government's lack of interest in preventive health as federal spending had fallen by 8 per cent to $797 million in 2005-06, compared with the previous year, while public-health funding by states and territories had increased by 17 per cent.

Ms Roxon says the Government is committed to establishing a national preventive health taskforce to tackle the looming burden of chronic diseases, with an initial focus on alcohol, tobacco and obesity.

Michael Moore the chief executive of the Public Health Association of Australia, says most people understand preventative health makes good economic sense as well as good health sense and NSW should be embarrassed by its rating.