Improving the health of Australia’s men will be the topic of discussion at an expert roundtable hosted by Labor at Parliament House today.
Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare, Catherine King, and Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling, will be joined by health experts across the country for a frank discussion on men’s health issues.
Men face unique health challenges, but at the same time they might not be looking after themselves as well as they could.
Data released only yesterday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that:
- Men were 10 per cent less likely to have visited a GP in the last three months
- Men were twice as likely to have not visited a health professional at all in the last twelve months
- Men were nearly three times less likely to have discussed safe sexual practices with a GP in the last twelve months
- Men were four times less likely to have discussed family planning with a GP in the last twelve months
Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare Catherine King said having an honest conversation about men’s health issues is important.
“We need to look at the factors that influence men’s interaction with the health care system, and develop strategies to ensure men are informed and engaged with all issues of their health. Part of Labor’s ongoing health policy process is opening our ears to the experts as early as possible, as we examine some of Australia’s biggest health challenges and prepare for a Shorten Labor Government. This roundtable is part of our ongoing engagement,” Ms King said.
Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling said that the roundtable would be an opportunity to not only look at current men’s health issues, but to discuss their future health needs.
“Building a health system which caters for everyone means looking at the different needs of each population group. We know that suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 54 – exceeding the national road toll – and men also have unique issues with reproductive health and particular chronic diseases. I’m excited to be part of this discussion as Labor leads the way looking at these issues.”
TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 2017