Physiotherapy – not surgery – required

The Australian Physiotherapy Association President, Cathy Niall, has told the House of Representatives Committee on Health and Ageing that allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, should be able to charge patients under Medicare in cases where their treatments were better and more cost-effective than those provided by doctors.

She said doctors wasted public money by needlessly conducting expensive surgery on ailments such as back pain and female stress incontinence when it had been proven that physiotherapy was more effective.

Female stress incontinence could be cured by a physiotherapist for $300 in 82% of cases, compared to surgery, costing between $4,000 and $6,000.

“Re-education of pelvic floor muscles by physiotherapists will preclude the need for surgery,” Ms Niall said.

She said lower back pain was often treated by spinal fusion when there was no evidence it was any more beneficial than intensive physiotherapy rehabilitation.

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said doctors already routinely referred patients to physiotherapists as part of a team-based approach. He said the Government had created a special Medicare number so doctors could bring in physiotherapists and other health professionals as part of comprehensive treatment plans.

The Committee is inquiring into health funding.