Fears cash-strapped Queenslanders will get sicker in cost of living crisis

Doctors fear the state will see a surge in debilitating and terminal illnesses as more and more cash-strapped Queenslanders skip GP appointments and fail to fill vital prescriptions.

Doctors fear the state will see a surge in debilitating and terminal illnesses as rising numbers of Queenslanders cannot afford to book a medical appointment or fill vital prescriptions.

“There will be missed diagnoses, late diagnoses and worsening of chronic conditions. If a patient who has symptoms cannot afford to see their doctor or has to put it off, their health outcomes may worsen. Cancers could be missed,” Australian Medical Association Queensland president Maria Boulton told The Courier-Mail.

AMA Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton.

This comes as pharmacists reveal they see the impact of the cost-of-living crisis every day, with Queenslanders concerned about how they can afford to look after their health.

“In community pharmacy, we witness first-hand the impact of the rising cost of living has on our patients. Every day, we engage in conversations with individuals and families who are forced to make difficult decisions, balancing their healthcare needs with their limited budgets,”

Pharmacy Guild of Australia vice-president Amanda Seeto said.

The number of cash-strapped people delaying or missing vital doctors’ appointments doubled in 2023/24 compared to the previous year, according to the latest report from the Productivity Commission.

The report revealed that a quarter of people delayed seeing a mental health specialist because of the costs. Dental checks were also abandoned.

“Over the same period, Australian government spending on general practice dropped from $461 per person to $420. General practice is the most cost-effective part of our healthcare system. It keeps people healthy and out of hospital,” Dr Boulton said.

Pharmacists say the cost-of-living crisis has started to impact on healthcare. File pictures

“Yet governments at the state and federal level prefer to pour money into Band-Aid fixes instead of properly resourcing GPs and practices.”

As Queensland is the teenage pregnancy capital of Australia with Logan, Brisbane, Ipswich and Moreton Bay leading the way in birth rates in mothers aged 15 to 19, the AMAQ is concerned about women and girls being able to see a doctor to get their contraceptive prescriptions.

“Women and girls need more access to long-term contraception and GPs need to be funded to undertake the necessary training,” Dr Boulton said.

GPs fear serious health issues will be missed because people can’t afford basic health checks. File picture

The AMAQ is concerned that people will miss going to the doctor for skin checks or for symptoms that could indicate serious medical problems like breast cancer or bowel cancer.

“We support making access to medical termination more available, particularly for those in regional areas, but we also need to do more to prevent unplanned pregnancies,” Ms Boulton said.

Medicare data reveals that 17430 prescriptions for MS-2-Step abortion pills were dispensed in Queensland in the 2022-23 financial year, compared with 8094 in Victoria and 6909 in NSW.

Originally published as Fears cash-strapped Queenslanders will get sicker in cost of living crisis