7.20 Towards a national cessation strategy
Show / hide chapter menu
Given the limited resources provided, Australia has made good progress in tobacco control. However, the current level of funding is not able to provide an ideal level of services. The National Tobacco Strategy 2004–2009 outlines an integrated national strategy for improving the quality of, and access to, services and treatment for smokers as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco-related harm.
'A comprehensive national plan for treating tobacco dependence would enable coordination of policy and spending by programs covering public health, medical and pharmaceutical benefits, medical education, the development of general practice and continuing education of virtually all health professionals.
Ideally, telephone callback and internet services would be available to smokers from any part of the country and the benefits of Quitlines and other services would be vigorously promoted. Every smoker would be able to afford a clinically appropriate pharmacotherapy, and such treatments would be subsidised where the patient was also undertaking a behavioural support program. All general practitioners, community pharmacists, practice nurses, dentists and other health professionals would be trained and supported to identify and encourage smokers to quit. GPs and other health professionals in all parts of the country would be able to refer patients to the Quitline. Quitline counsellors would provide feedback to GPs, and pharmacists and practice nurses would support GP advice and counselling. Identification and treatment of smokers would be national performance indicator for Australian hospitals.'333
Copyright © 2012 The Cancer Council. All rights reserved.