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Thursday, 5 December, 2024
HomeHarm ReductionMRC modelling shows alcohol ban will cut trauma patients by 50,000

MRC modelling shows alcohol ban will cut trauma patients by 50,000

A two-month ban on alcohol sales could potentially see 50,000 fewer trauma patients presenting at public hospitals, freeing up desperately needed staff and beds for treating thousands of extra COVID-19 cases, modelling by the Medical Research Council (MRC) has found, reports Business Day.

Public hospitals in several provinces are taking strain as the number of COVID-19 patients with severe illness soars. Gauteng has reported a three-fold increase in hospital admissions in the past fortnight, while Western Cape has already begun admitting patients to field hospitals specially built for COVID-19 patients.

The modelling was provided to the government last week as it weighed up introducing tighter restrictions on the sale of alcohol and the possible reintroduction of the evening curfew imposed during lockdown level 4.

The MRC’s modelling found the reduction in trauma cases from a ban on alcohol sales would translate into 124,000 fewer bed days in general wards, 46,000 less ICU bed days, and save the government R1.3bn over an eight-week period, said its alcohol, tobacco and drug research unit director Charles Parry.

Trauma cases include patients who are treated and sent home the same day and those who are admitted to hospital for longer stays. These savings would enable the treatment of about 17,755 COVID-19 patients in general wards, or 12,947 in ICU wards, he said. If trauma patient numbers were reduced, more staff could be deployed to care for those with COVID-19.

 

10 reasons why the alcohol ban is back, according to Mkhize

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has outlined government’s reasoning why it took the decision to reinstate the ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol, reports BusinessTech. He said the alcohol restrictions in place are about limiting the damage that alcohol abuse tends to create.

World Health Organisation data showed that 31% of the population aged 15 and older consume alcohol. While this appears to be a relatively low number, Mkhize said, their consumption rate is among the highest in the world.

The country has a particularly high proportion of ‘binge drinkers’, he said.

Mkhize said that alcohol-related trauma cases tend to be young and fit individuals who would otherwise not require hospitalisation, adding an unnecessary burden on facilities.

Data from level 4 and level 5 lockdown indicated a massive reduction in alcohol-related trauma. This has fed into the decision to reinstate the sales suspension, Mkhize said.

“Some of the modelling that was done to predict the impact of an alcohol ban showed that the suspension of alcohol sales could result in a 20% reduction in all trauma (cases) and 40% reduction in all alcohol-related trauma by the third week,” he said.

The BusinessTech article features 10 slides, each presenting a reason why the alcohol ban is back

 

Alcohol ban forever if we don’t tackle SA’s alcohol problem – SAMA

South African Medical Association chair, Dr Angelique Coetzee, said that it was important to address the root causes of irresponsible alcohol use, writes Kevin Brandt for EWN. The reaction followed President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that the sale of alcohol has been banned again as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.

The government move followed a surge in alcohol-related trauma cases experienced at hospitals after alcohol sales were reintroduced under relaxed level 3 regulations at the beginning of June.

Coetzee, who is also a member of the ministerial advisory committee, said that unearthing the underlying problems regarding alcohol abuse was important.

"What we're now effectively doing is putting a plaster on a festering wound. If we do not address the problem, we'll forever have an alcohol ban."

Coetzee agreed that having the ban in place would ease pressure on the health system, but stressed that a more long-term solution needed to be found.

"Remember what we said: this virus is going to be with us for quite some time, so are we now going to block alcohol and cigarettes every time something is not up to what you want to be?"

 

[link url="https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/health/2020-07-13-booze-ban-could-free-up-thousands-of-beds-for-covid-19-patients-says-mrc/ utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Booze+banned+in+race+against+Covid+%7C%C2%A0Stats+SA+shelves+vital+survey+on+poverty+%7C%C2%A0Booze+ban+could+free+up+thousands+of+beds+for+Covid-19+patients&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businesslive.co.za%2Fbd%2Fnational%2Fhealth%2F2020-07-13-booze-ban-could-free-up-thousands-of-beds-for-covid-19-patients-says-mrc%2F"]Full Business Day report[/link]

 

[link url="https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/415841/10-reasons-why-the-alcohol-ban-is-back-according-to-mkhize/"]10 reasons why the alcohol ban is back, according to Mkhize[/link]

 

[link url="https://ewn.co.za/2020/07/14/if-we-don-t-address-sa-s-alcohol-problem-we-ll-have-a-ban-forever-sama-chair"]If we don’t address SA’s alcohol problem we’ll have a ban forever – SAMA chair[/link]

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