Despite being one of the country’s biggest health issues, Australian medical authorities have no official strategy when it comes to dealing with chronic pain.

One in five Australians suffer from the condition and it's estimated to cost the economy more than $30 billion a year.

An expert committee is calling for chronic pain to be treated as a disease in its own right. This would give sufferers greater access to health services and improving their quality of life.

Jessica Bineth reports.