 |
"At Bupa, we believe that we have both a role to play and a responsibility to help tackle the alarming rise in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia in Australia."As you will read in this issue of Advancing Healthcare, chronic diseases not only exact a high toll on the individuals affected but they can also have far reaching social, economic and human rights implications for nations. |
| "At Bupa, we believe passionately that business can make an enormous contribution towards reducing the impact of chronic disease and to improving the health of the world." |
It is estimated that chronic diseases affect around 3.4 million Australians - a third of the working-age population1 - and account for around 42 per cent of Australia’s total disease and injury burden2.
These figures represent just the tip of the iceberg, with large numbers of back pain, lung and heart disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other chronic conditions going unreported.
Bupa is passionate about making a lasting, positive impact on the world’s health, and in particular for our 22 million customers worldwide. Our purpose, ‘longer, healthier, happier lives’, inspires and drives everything we do.
In Australia and New Zealand, this commitment shows in a broad range of programmes, projects and activities we undertake both as a company and through the charitable Bupa Health Foundation, some of which you can read about in this issue of Advancing Healthcare.
Through collaborative partnerships with some of Australia’s leading health organisations, researchers and individuals providing care, we aim to play a lead role in nurturing new ideas and approaches to improve health outcomes.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Paul Bates, Chief Medical Officer, Bupa
1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2009). Chronic Disease and Participation in Work. cat. No. PHE 109.
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare cited by Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA). State of Preventive Health 2013. Report to the Australian Government Minister for Health. Canberra, ANPHA, 2013.
Bupa Australia and New Zealand’s purpose is to help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. It provides health insurance, aged care and related services and complementary health care services through Bupa Health Dialog, Dental Corporation, Bupa Wellness and Bupa Optical. Bupa focuses on providing sustainable health care solutions that represent real value, and on leading the industry in the promotion of preventive health and wellness. Bupa’s Australian and New Zealand businesses are part of the international Bupa Group, which cares for more than 22 million people in over 190 countries.
