Muscle and joint creating $5.5 billion burden

Muscle and joint conditions creating $5.5 billion burden

A new study shows New Zealand’s health sector is being crippled by a multi-billion dollar problem – muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) conditions – and the situation will worsen over the next 20 to 40 years.

The study, Musculoskeletal Conditions in New Zealand, “The Crippling Burden”, was produced by The Bone and Joint Decade.

It shows that musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of disability, affect one in four New Zealanders and are estimated to cost the country over $5.5 billion per year.

Report co-authors, Messrs Chris Bossley and Kim Miles, are urging the Ministry of Health to give more priority to combating musculoskeletal disorders.

This group of disorders includes all forms of arthritis (damage to joints); osteoporosis; low back pain and spinal disorders; injuries to the spine and limbs; crippling diseases and deformities in children.

Mr Bossley, who is the national co-ordinator of the Bone and Joint Decade, a global organisation set up to raise awareness of this issue, said these disorders are often overlooked as a significant health issue.

“These conditions incur costs for the individual, their family, employers and New Zealand’s economy.

“These costs are an unacceptable burden that can only increase unless we address them now,” says Mr Bossley

The study showed that of the $5.5 billion spend annual on musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis accounts for $2 billion and osteoporosis for $1.1 billion. $1.6 billion is spent on ACC claims (excluding physiotherapy costs).

“It doesn’t include a number of other costs that we couldn’t quantify, such as the costs of chronic pain, which are significant” says Mr Bossley.

Executive Director of The Bone and Joint Decade and co-author, Kim Miles, comments that despite these alarming statistics, these disorders are often overlooked as a significant health issue.

“This is mainly because they’re generally not fatal, they can be relatively invisible (i.e. chronic) and are often seen as an inevitable consequence of ageing.

“However you look at it, with an ageing population, New Zealand is facing a crippling and increasing burden of musculoskeletal disorders. To address this, we must introduce effective strategies into future health policy development to ensure those affected are treated appropriately.

“As a country, we must encourage patients to be more responsible for their own care and we must promote cost-effective prevention and treatment.

“Unless we do, the impact of these conditions on the health system will grow steadily worse over the next 20 years and longer as our population ages,” says Mr Miles.

Health leaders are encouraged to reconsider priorities soon, for the ultimate benefit of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

ENDS

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