National Statement on Health Literacy

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released the National Statement on Health Literacy.  "Almost 60% of Australians have a low level of individual health literacy. This is important to the safety, quality and effectiveness of health care. Low levels of individual health literacy contribute to poorer health outcomes, increased risk of an adverse event and higher healthcare costs. People with low levels of health literacy may not understand their medication instructions, be able to interpret nutrition labels on food, or be able to understand the risks associated with different treatment options enough to make an informed choice."