Queensland

A range of health data sets were utilised to assess the effects of the 2019–20 bushfire season on respiratory health, including Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and IQVIA (privately provided pharmaceutical sales) data.

The interactive graphs below allow you to explore how rates of PBS respiratory-related prescription dispensing, sales of inhalers for shortness of breath, and selected MBS item claims changed over each week of the bushfire period, compared with the previous year.

These data are broken down by Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) and you can explore different aspects of the data by selecting different measures, views and SA4s.

This figure compares changes in rates, by week, for 2019–20 compared to the same time the previous year for each Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) PBS salbutamol prescription dispensing, MBS respiratory test items and sales of inhalers for shortness of breath (over-the-counter and PBS). Users can select the measure of each data set displayed (age-standardised or crude rate), and which SA4 is highlighted for comparison.