Bad backs hurt wallet

BAD backs are costing Australia big dollars.

More cash was splashed on musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and back pain than any other disease, condition or injury in Australia in 2018-19. A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare detailed the sobering findings.

Of the $136bn spent across the health system in 2018-19, musculoskeletal disorders cost the most at $14bn, followed by cardiovascular diseases ($11.8bn), cancer and other neoplasms ($11.8bn), and mental and substance use disorders ($10.5bn). Patients in public hospitals spent $4.4bn on cardiovascular diseases.