AUSTRALIAN Medical Association state president Tim Greenaway says the association will lobby the Tasmanian Health Service to ban the sale of soft drinks in hospitals across the state.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dr Greenaway said he will also be advocating for the state government to introduce a sugar tax in Tasmania.
The bid to ban soft drinks follows a move by Barwon Health in Geelong on Saturday, which announced it would remove sugary drinks from cafeterias and vending machines across its sites.
This includes fruit juices and sports drinks, and the changes would take place over two years.
Dr Greenaway said that he would discuss the issue with the management or executive at the Royal Hobart Hospital this week, and he planned to lobby the Tasmanian Health Service.
“Hospitals should be places which promote health and healthy activity, not just places that fight disease,” Dr Greenaway said.
“To that end, we don't allow smoking for very good reasons on hospital sites, it is logical therefore we ought not promote the sale of sugar and sugar containing drinks.”
We don't allow smoking for very good reasons on hospital sites it is logical therefore we ought not promote the sale of sugar and sugar containing drinks.
- Tim Greenaway
He said that as Tasmania has one health system, the ban should be consistent across the entire health system.
Thirteen health services across Victoria have recently followed suit.
A spokesman for the THS said the issue was currently being looked at.
"The Tasmanian Health Service is currently examining the needs and requirements of staff, patients and their families in relation to the content of vending machines in hospitals,” the spokesman said.
Dr Greenaway said he would argue for a sugar tax to be introduced in Tasmania at a meeting of the Health Council of Tasmania on Wednesday.
He said the meeting will discuss where the state budget health funds will be dispersed.
