World Parkinson’s Day – 11 April
The simple things in life are not simple with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s Disease is not what happens when you get old and is not just about having the shakes.
Parkinson’s is also more prominent in rural than metropolitan areas. Parkinson’s Disease is the most common neuromuscular disorder in Australia, affecting approximately 80,000 people.
The chief executive officer of Parkinson’s Australia, Norman Marshall, said “over the next five years the number of people with Parkinson’s will jump by 15%. If you don’t know someone with Parkinson’s now, chances are you soon will”.
“The considerable disability impacting people living with Parkinson’s resulted in ‘costs burden’ of A$6.8 billion in 2005,” he said.
“The level of government assistance in Australia – at all levels of government – is approximately $2 per person with no contribution from previous Federal Governments. The cost per person of Parkinson’s Disease to the health system is at least triple that imposed by cardiovascular disease or mental disorders and about 10 times that of asthma. Yet these other conditions are listed as National Health Priority Areas. Parkinson’s Disease is not.”
Parkinson’s Australia wants to ensure the widest possible range of treatment options are available to all Australians suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Australia has far fewer treatment options available compared with Europe and the USA.
Mr Marshall commented: “Our healthcare system should be providing people with Parkinson’s the most up to date treatments as possible. Treatments available overseas which we cannot access here would help improve the quality of life of Australians living with this disabling disease.”
