(Left to right) Professor Richard Blandy, P-Health Flagship Director Richard Head and Professor Graeme Young.

Improvements in health account for almost half the gain in US living standards in the past 50 years.

Improvements in lifespan account for almost half of the actual gain in Australian living standards in the past 40 years.

And if the average onset of Alzheimer's disease were delayed by 5 months, by 2020 cumulative savings of $1.3 billion would be realised.

These examples of the economic imperative for a focus on preventative health were explored at an Innovation Festival forum held in Adelaide last month.

The May 12 forum, Preventative Health - an Economic Imperative, was led by Preventative Health Flagship Director Professor Richard Head, in conjunction with Flagship collaborators Professor Richard Blandy, an economist from the University of South Australia and Professor Graeme Young, a cancer specialist from Flinders University, SA.

The forum was attended by more than 60 people, including State MPs and State and Federal advisers, government agencies, universities, CRCs and health care representative bodies.

The gathering heard that economic gains have emerged through longevity, an increased number of healthy years, and through increased standard of living by raised productivity in production and consumption.

Audience intently listening to speakers

However, an ageing demographic outlook creates economic pressure on fewer productive members of the population, causing budgetary difficulties for governments in meeting pension, health, and care costs of population. It also raises inflation risks and the spectre of balance of payments deficits to meet shortfall of national savings and to provide retirement benefits

This creates the imperative for innovation in preventative health care to maintain and enhance people's years of good health and productivity.

The forum heard examples of how this challenge was being addressed through the collaboration and multidisciplinary work of the Preventative Health Flagship, and how focussed and relevant research is helping to address chronic diseases challenges facing Australia.

The presentation engaged the audience to the extent that questions and comments continued for 45 minutes after the conclusion of the presentations.

UPDATE home

Message from the Director

Microscope System Keeps Count for Colorectal Cancer Studies

New protection for health-promoting probiotics

Preventative health focus at Australian Innovation Festival

Oxford lab experience for Flagship PhD student

Preventative Health Presentations/Publications for February 2006 to June 2006

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The Preventative Health Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.

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