Servicios Personalizados
Articulo
Indicadores
Links relacionados
- Citado por Google
- Similares en Google
Compartir
SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versión On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versión impresa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.104 no.2 Pretoria feb. 2014
CORRESPONDENCE
The effects of obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake on healthcare expenditure in a comprehensive medical scheme
S A Craven
Hon. Lecturer in Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: sacraven@mweb.co.za
To the Editor: In your November 2013 edition, Sturm et al.[1] confirm quantitatively that which we clinicians have known qualitatively for many years, viz. that 'obesity and tobacco use are associated with significantly increased healthcare expenditure'. This, and other research papers on the same issue, prompt me to ask when the Commissioner of Medical Schemes will permit the various medical aids to charge non-smokers, and those of an appropriate body mass index, a lower monthly premium? And when will the Provincial Health Departments charge appropriately higher fees for management of the preventable salvage work?
Why should those who look after themselves subsidise the feckless?
1. Sturm R, An R, Maroba J, Patel D. The effects of obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake on healthcare expenditure in a comprehensive medical scheme. S Afr Med J 2013;103(11):840-844. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.7260] [ Links ]