❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Health on obesity rates in WA, the socioeconomic correlation, and the government's approach, specifically regarding compassionate access to medicinal cannabis. The Minister acknowledges rising obesity rates, a socioeconomic link, and existing measures, but rejects funding for compassionate cannabis access programs.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HEMP
OIL — OBESITY
866. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the Minister to a recent
paper entitled Foodomics reveals anti-obesity properties of cannabinoids
from hemp oil , published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food
Research .
(1) What portion
of the WA population is considered to be medically obese? Has that figure grown
over the last decade; and, if it has, to what degree?
(2) Does the
Department of Health recognise a socioeconomic correlation between families on
a low income and instances of obesity?
(3) What is the
Cook government doing to tackle obesity and its related complications? Do those
measures include consideration of a compassionate-access scheme for those
unable to afford medicinal cannabis at current market prices; and, if not, why
not?
OIL — OBESITY
866. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the Minister to a recent
paper entitled Foodomics reveals anti-obesity properties of cannabinoids
from hemp oil , published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food
Research .
(1) What portion
of the WA population is considered to be medically obese? Has that figure grown
over the last decade; and, if it has, to what degree?
(2) Does the
Department of Health recognise a socioeconomic correlation between families on
a low income and instances of obesity?
(3) What is the
Cook government doing to tackle obesity and its related complications? Do those
measures include consideration of a compassionate-access scheme for those
unable to afford medicinal cannabis at current market prices; and, if not, why
not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
prevalence of obesity in the Western Australian adult population has increased
from 26.6 per cent in 2010 to 33.6 per cent in 2020.
(2) Yes.
(3) A range of
measures are currently in place across the WA health system to prevent and
treat obesity. Measures do not include
consideration of a compassionate-access scheme in relation to medicinal
cannabis . Mechanisms are already in place within WA Health that permit
access to high-cost, unfunded medicines in exceptional circumstances.
Government funding of individual independent or privately-operated
compassionate-access programs for medicines is not supported.
There is a footnote to that answer:
Epidemiology Directorate, 2021, Health and wellbeing of adults in Western Australia
2020 , Department of Health, Western Australia.
some notice of the question.
(1) The
prevalence of obesity in the Western Australian adult population has increased
from 26.6 per cent in 2010 to 33.6 per cent in 2020.
(2) Yes.
(3) A range of
measures are currently in place across the WA health system to prevent and
treat obesity. Measures do not include
consideration of a compassionate-access scheme in relation to medicinal
cannabis . Mechanisms are already in place within WA Health that permit
access to high-cost, unfunded medicines in exceptional circumstances.
Government funding of individual independent or privately-operated
compassionate-access programs for medicines is not supported.
There is a footnote to that answer:
Epidemiology Directorate, 2021, Health and wellbeing of adults in Western Australia
2020 , Department of Health, Western Australia.
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