Sun smart cash bid a bit rich

Posted by Michael on February 22, 2009, 4:18pm, 143 views

There is some flawed logic in media reports of the Deakin University study that skin cancer rates will increase if the government doesn’t maintain funding for “sun smart” campaigns.

According to The Age: “Compiled by Deakin University on behalf of the Cancer Council, the report found that after the first national SunSmart campaign in 2006-07, fewer Australians put themselves at risk in the sun.”

That’s great, the campaign worked. Why does it need to be repeated every year? Maybe it’s better to run it one year in three so the message doesn’t become stale.

I wonder if advertising agencies funded the study? It’s declared the study was completed “on behalf of the Cancer Council” where presumably marketing types owe their livelihoods to ongoing campaigns.

Another crazy quote: “On current trends there will be one million annual GP consultations for non-melanoma skin cancer alone in Australia within a few years. That’s an unacceptable burden on our health system …”

Isn’t that what doctors are paid to do, check people’s health? It’s unlikely people will go to the doctor simply for a skin cancer check.

They are more likely to do as I did last week and include it with a general consultation.

These articles might be of interest: