Five stillbirth deaths a day will cost the Australian economy $681.4 million over the next five years

FIVE stillbirth deaths a day will continue to cost the Australian economy $681.4 million over the next five years, a new report has revealed.

The economic impact of Australia’s 1700 stillbirths annually has been calculated for the first time in a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and commissioned by Stillbirth Foundation Australia.

FIVE stillbirth deaths a day will continue to cost the Australian economy $681.4 million over the next five years, a new report has revealed.

The economic impact of Australia’s 1700 stillbirths annually has been calculated for the first time in a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and commissioned by Stillbirth Foundation Australia.

The biggest financial burden of stillbirth on workplaces — parents who don’t return to work or those who return before the are ready — will cost to the economy $278 million over the next five years.

Stillbirth Foundation Australia chief executive Victoria Bowring said while the personal cost of stillbirth was incalculable, the financial cost to the economy was not any longer.

Other economic impacts over the next five years include $70.6 million from lost productivity from exiting the labour force and $74.5 million in hospital fees.

“Stillbirth is a national crisis, which has a devastating impact on families throughout the country — and a significant, measurable impact on the Australian economy,” Ms Bowring said.

“Too often stillbirth is something that has been dealt with in silence — but this is something that we as a nation, and as a workforce, need to be dealing with far better.”

PwC chief economist, Jeremy Thorpe said it was important to shine the spotlight on the most common form of child mortality and its many social and economic impacts.

He said a significant funding increase for research into stillbirth and for advertising campaigns is urgently needed to let parents know about the proven preventive measures.

Ms Bowring said a significant funding increase for research into stillbirth and for advertising campaigns was urgently needed to let parents know about the proven preventive measures.

“One third of all stillbirths can be prevented through education and greater awareness. Too often families are not warned of the risks, or are not treated properly by the system,” she said.

Originally published as Five stillbirth deaths a day will cost the Australian economy $681.4 million over the next five years