Australian health departments spent $987 million on public
health activities in 2000-01 - which represents 1.7% of total
recurrent expenditure on all health services - with immunisation
programs accounting for the biggest share of spending, a new report
from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has
found.
National Public Health Expenditure Report 2000-01 is
the third report on public health expenditure by the Australian
Government, state and territory health departments.
Public health activities are those aimed at protecting or
promoting health, or preventing illness by addressing the factors
that determine health, and the causes of illness. By acting to
decrease future levels of disease, public health expenditure aims
to reduce later spending on health services.
Expenditure for nine core public health activities is detailed
in the report.
Organised immunisation programs cost $169 million, or 17.1% of
total national expenditure on public health activities, followed
closely by communicable disease control at $163.6 million
(16.6%).
Selected health promotion, which includes population health
programs promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing, was the next
most significant area of public health expenditure, accounting for
$155.3 million (15.7%), followed by activities relating to the
prevention of hazardous and harmful drug use at $146.2 million
(14.8%).
Head of AIHW's Health and Welfare Expenditure Unit, Tony Hynes,
said that public health activity is a joint responsibility between
the Australian Government and states and territories.
'Close to $549 million, or 55.6% of total public health
expenditure came from the Commonwealth purse in 2000-01. Of this,
$296.3 million was spent directly by the Australian Government and
$252.6 million as payments to the states and territories,' Tony
Hynes said.
The balance of public health funding ($438.1 million or 44.4%)
was provided by state and territory governments, which spend 70% of
all funds devoted to public health activities in Australia.
In real terms, public health spending rose 8% between 1999-00
and 2000-01. The proportion of all health spending on public health
remained at 1.7%.
Two areas showed substantial growth - prevention of hazardous
and harmful drug use, up 27% to $146 million, and food standards
and hygiene, up 36% to $35 million.
18 June 2004
Further information: Tony Hynes, AIHW, tel. 02
6244 1160.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for availability of National Public
Health Expenditure Report 2000-01, June 2004.