Aust 'urgently' needs chronic disease plan

Australia urgently needs a national plan for chronic disease management, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.

In a submission to the inquiry into chronic disease, the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association says the growing burden of chronic disease has highlighted significant structural issues within the health system that prevents a co-ordinated response to patients.

It comes after the release of government figures last week showing one in five Australians has a chronic disease.