Professor John Olynyk.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) Professor of Translational Medicine John Olynyk has been recognised in Federal Parliament for his research into haemochromatosis, the most common inherited disorder among people of northern European descent.
Up to 100,000 Australians carry the high-risk genotype for haemochromatosis, a condition which sees the body accumulate too much iron and can lead to many potentially life-threatening health complications.
Professor Olynyk was in Canberra to speak at the Parliamentary Friends of Haemochromatosis event held at Parliament House this week and outlined how tens of millions of dollars could be saved by introducing more efficient diagnosis procedures for the condition.
Louise Miller-Frost MP was one of many dignitaries on hand and made special mention of Professor Olynyk's work in a speech to the House of Representatives the following day.
"Professor John Olynyk told us haemochromatosis costs the Australian health system over $280 million per year, and alternate pathways to diagnosis, including screening of at-risk individuals, has the potential to save the Medicare system significant amounts of money and provide a better population-based outcome," she said.
"I was pleased to hear that the haemochromatosis treatment pathway has been developed in many states.
"Prevention and early intervention is always cheaper and more effective than treating the complex conditions that a disease such as this can cause."
The Parliamentary Friends of Haemochromatosis is a bi-partisan group whose aim is to raise awareness of haemochromatosis amongst parliamentarians and the wider population, promote the need for more Australians to be diagnosed and treated, and inform Federal parliamentarians of the latest developments in treatment, screening and raising awareness.
Senator Catryna Bilyk and Nola Marino MP are co-convenors of the group, while other speakers at the event included Assistant Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney MP, Federal Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston and Haemochromatosis Australia's Dr Dan Johnstone and Melissa Bruno.
