❓ Dr. Walker raises concerns about deaths from properly prescribed medication, citing US and Australian figures, and asks what the WA government will do to quantify the problem and share data. The parliamentary secretary replies that WA reports adverse events and collaborates with other jurisdictions.
AnsweredQoN 540Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Prescription medication—Deaths540.Hon Dr Brian Walkerto theparliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:I refer the minister
to figures showing that the annual deaths in the United States of America due
to properly prescribed medication properly administered sits at around 120,000
per year, making it the third most commoncause of death
nationally. Studies here in Australia have suggested anywhere between 18,000
and 54,000 deaths annually, but authoritative, accurate figures are almost
impossible to source in a local context.(1) What can the state
government in general, and the Department of Health in particular, do to better
quantify and understand the scale of this problem here in Western Australia, be
that alone, or in conjunction with other states and territories?(2) Will the minister
commit to doing what she can to encourage the gathering and sharing of more
detailed data on this issue?(3) If not, why not?
representing the Minister for Health:I refer the minister
to figures showing that the annual deaths in the United States of America due
to properly prescribed medication properly administered sits at around 120,000
per year, making it the third most commoncause of death
nationally. Studies here in Australia have suggested anywhere between 18,000
and 54,000 deaths annually, but authoritative, accurate figures are almost
impossible to source in a local context.(1) What can the state
government in general, and the Department of Health in particular, do to better
quantify and understand the scale of this problem here in Western Australia, be
that alone, or in conjunction with other states and territories?(2) Will the minister
commit to doing what she can to encourage the gathering and sharing of more
detailed data on this issue?(3) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Pierre Yang replied:I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following on
behalf of the Minister for Health.(1)–(3) Western Australia reports adverse
events where they occur in the WA health system to the Commonwealth. Western
Australia continues to work with the other states and territories and the
Commonwealth to explore opportunities for gathering and sharing of data on this
issue.
Prescription medication—Deaths
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following on
behalf of the Minister for Health.(1)–(3) Western Australia reports adverse
events where they occur in the WA health system to the Commonwealth. Western
Australia continues to work with the other states and territories and the
Commonwealth to explore opportunities for gathering and sharing of data on this
issue.
Prescription medication—Deaths
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