Pain: A national healthcare policy initiative

The management of pain in Australia is shockingly inadequate.

One in five Australians will suffer chronic pain in their lifetime yet up to 80% living with this debilitating condition are missing out on treatment that could improve their health and quality of life. An MBF Foundation report conducted by Access Economics has estimated that chronic pain costs the Australian economy $34 billion per annum.

People with acute pain (after surgery or trauma) or cancer pain are effectievly treated only 50% of the time.

The National Pain Summit, to be held on Thursday March 11, 2010 at Parliament House in Canberra, will bring together Australia’s leading authorities in pain medicine, other health professionals and consumer groups representing people with pain to finalise a national strategy to address this pressing economic and social issue.

The strategy will be aligned to Federal Government initiatives for health reform, particularly in relation to preventative health and the management of chronic disease.

An initial National Pain Strategy draft was launched on Sunday October 18 (see the media release) and is continually being updated. Expert and community feedback on the strategy has been sought and the strategy will be finalised at the National Pain Summit.

This website includes essential information on pain, the latest draft of the National Pain Strategy containing updates from the deliberations of Summit working groups, media releases and real stories from people with pain.