Monthly Archives: February 2009

Will the maternity services report make a difference?

February 25, 2009 – 10:59 am

Caroline Homer, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney, comments on the new report: “It is an exciting time to be part of Australian maternity services! The key recommendations of the Report of the Maternity Services Review, commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, are exciting and encouraging and pave the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in childbirth and maternity services, health reform | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

The blue continues over weight loss product guidelines

February 18, 2009 – 10:52 am

Ken Harvey’s recent Crikey piece about the TGA’s draft guidelines for evidence on weight loss products has apparently ruffled a few industry feathers. Pharma Focus recently reported the ASMI’s concerns about “mischievous misrepresentation” of the guidelines. The discussion continues below. Read on… Part 1 From: Ken Harvey, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow School of Public Health, [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in evidence-based issues, obesity, TGA, weight loss products | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

How can the media facilitate a richer health debate?

February 17, 2009 – 3:20 pm

Emeritus Professor Kerry Goulston, who has been active in the Hospital Reform Group in NSW, has welcomed the NHHRC’s interim report. “It will hopefully play an important role in a full public debate about the future of Australian healthcare,” he says. “This is long overdue. The community need to get involved at all levels and [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform, Media-related issues | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

It’s time Rudd Govt came clean on its real health agenda: Ian Hickie

February 16, 2009 – 9:27 pm

Professor Ian Hickie, Executive Director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, writes: Now that the NHHRC has released its interim report, it’s time the Federal Government gave us some serious indication of whether it is genuinely committed to the sort of real reform that our health system needs. It’s time for the Rudd Government [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Snippets of reaction to NHHRC report

February 16, 2009 – 8:38 pm

Professor Mike Daube, Professor of Health Policy, Curtin University of Technology: “There are some good things in the report – from the commitment to tackling inequities to the emphasis on prevention. What seems to be missing, a year on from the Commission’s establishment, is final conclusions on Commonwealth/State relationships, and how new funding can be [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform, Indigenous health | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Let citizens’ juries loose on the NHHRC recommendations: Gavin Mooney

February 16, 2009 – 7:07 pm

Gavin Mooney, Professor of Health Economics, University of Sydney, writes: Following on from my prediction of what would NOT be in the NHHRC’s interim report (see earlier Croakey post below), I was unfortunately right – even if some of the proposals, especially on one-stop shops for primary care and improving equity, are good. But is [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Health inequalities, health reform, Indigenous health, primary health care | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Nitpicking the NHHRC report: what’s missing

February 16, 2009 – 4:06 pm

My first reaction, after an admittedly cursory speed-read, is that one of the key themes/motherhood statements of the report is sadly lacking. The report repeatedly mentions the need for all of us – “people, families, communities, health professionals, employers and governments” – to individually and collectively take responsibility for our health. I was struck that [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform, prevention, private health insurance, public health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

NHHRC report wimps out: Ian McAuley

February 16, 2009 – 3:05 pm

Ian McAuley, health economist, Centre for Policy Development and University of Canberra, critiques the interim report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, released today: Although some of its ideas such as a Commonwealth takeover of primary care and the “Denticare” scheme have attracted publicity, it is a timidly-written document, ducking the big issues [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in dental care, health reform, Hospitals, private health insurance | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

It’s time to address the P-word in health care: Gavin Mooney

February 16, 2009 – 2:45 pm

Gavin Mooney, Professor of Health Economics, University of Sydney, writes: The key to the future of the Australian health service lies with – or ought to lie with – the people of Australia. It is our health that is involved; and it ought to be seen as our health service. Currently the health service is [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform, prevention, public health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Crises bring opportunities for health reform (perhaps): Stephen Leeder

February 13, 2009 – 10:07 am

Stephen Leeder, Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney, analyses the opportunities for health reform: We have entered the Year of the Ox.  Might it morph into the Year of the Oxymoron, where contradictory combinations of words – tough love, compassionate conservatism, decentralised governance – will reach epidemic levels, affecting health policy? Health [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform | Tagged , | Comments (0)