Report seeks funding for accident studies

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 7

Report seeks funding for accident studies

PA Wellington The cost of human suffering and losses to the economy from accidents could be slashed with a $7.5 million, five-year programme, says a report commissioned by the Medical Research Council.

The 125-page report, by John Langley and Dr Elizabeth McLoughlin of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development' Research Unit, was jointly funded by the M.R.C. and the Accident Compensation Corporation. It calls for $7.5 million to be spent over five years — $2.8 million for staff increases at the Ministry of Transport, A.C.C. and the National Health Statistics Centre, and $2 million in A.C.C. grants for research.

Organisations and individuals involved in the report meet on February 10 to discuss its recommendations and decide action.

The report says accidents are the fourth leading cause of death for all ages, and the leading cause of death for people aged between one and 34. Accidents are second only to pregnancy and childbirth as the main cause of hospitalisation, and account for one-quar-ter of all potential years of life lost. "Costs in human suffering and losses to the economy as a consequence of injuries are formidable,” the authors say. A Road Traffic Safety Research Council study estimates (in March 1983 prices) that the cost of road accidents alone to the country is $5lO million.

In 1984/85, A.C.C. paid $312 million compensation for claims related to in-

juries. In 1983, the most recent year for which claims analyses are available, motor vehicle injuries accounted for only 17 per cent of total compensation. The report says there is a growing international body of literature indicating that injuries can be prevented if the appropriate intervention is developed and implemented.

The report’s authors say it was crudely estimated that $7,532,500 would be needed over the next five years to implement its 38 recommendations. Aside from $2.8 million for staff increases at the Ministry, A.C.C. and N.H.S.C., and $2 million in A.C.C. research grants; $675,000 is needed for training grants and fellowships, $1 million for specific research projects and $900,000 for other recommended activities and projects.

The authors say spending $7.5 million for work related to injury research is justified by the burden of injuries to society, the neglect of injury research in the past and the potential benefits if effective injury prevention strategies result.

The M.R.C.’s director, Dr Jim Hodge, in the report’s forward, says both sponsoring organisations will examine its recommendations With “gi;eat care” in coming months.

He says it demonstrates clearly the weakness in the injury research field and encourages new steps, both administrative and scientific, to remedy the situation.

Dr Hodge says the findings and recommendations deserve wide discussion among intersted individuals and groups.