Cost of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Australia

In 2005 and 2006 The Gutsy Group provided funding of $20,000 to the Health Economics Group at The University of Melbourne. The analysis was carried out by Stephen Colgan, the research fellow with the Health Economics Group Programme Evaluation Unit, under the tutelage of Associate Professor Rob Carter. This research was undertaken to assess the financial burden of inflammatory bowel disease in Australia, to highlight the future impact of IBD, and to assist in the raising of funds.

The final report on the cost of inflammatory bowel disease was tabled in March, 2006. The report was the first comprehensive assessment of the costs of IBD in Australia and the most complete economic assessment. of the burden of the disease. Some of the key findings were:

• The prevalence of IBD in Australia was 360 per 100,000, which second highest only to Canada.
• The total cost of IBD in Australia in 2005 was approximately$267 million, $220 million related to medical costs, and $40 million to lost wages.

Please contact us if you would like to obtain a copy of the report.