The true cost of hidden waiting times for cataract surgery in Australia

Autor: Anna Palagyi, Peter McCluskey, Blake Angell, Lisa Keay, Andrew White, Hugh R. Taylor, Jessie Huang-Lung
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Public health researchpractice. 32(3)
ISSN: 2204-2091
Popis: Cataract surgery is a safe, effective and common elective procedure in Australia but access is inequitable. True waiting times for cataract care are undisclosed or inconsistently reported by governments. Estimates of true waiting times range from 4 to 30 months and have been extended during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Comparative analysis revealed that reducing waiting periods from 12 to 3 months would result in estimated public health system cost savings of $6.6 million by preventing 50 679 falls. Investment in public cataract services to address current unmet needs would prevent avoidable vision impairment and associated negative consequences.
Databáze: OpenAIRE