Monthly Archives: August 2009

Pathology and Government sums don’t quite add up: industry insider

August 31, 2009 – 12:46 pm

A pathology industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous has sent in the following post: “Every year I have a chuckle at the annual reports of whoever is left standing in corporate pathology…..and this year is just the same…..it never seems to add up.   All the info below is derived from the annual reports [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in pathology | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Why can’t we have a rational discussion about the merits of pandemic flu vaccination?

August 31, 2009 – 12:02 pm

In some public health circles, it is seen as verging on cardinal sin to raise questions in public about the safety or effectiveness of vaccines. The fear is that even mentioning these issues risks lending fuel to the anti-vaccination brigade. One problem with this view is that is inhibits a discussion that we need to [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in infectious diseases, influenza, Media-related issues, public health, swine flu, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (7)

Podger’s book is HOT – just wait for Halton’s

August 26, 2009 – 7:44 pm

Having now had a quick read of Podger’s book (following on from the previous post), I recommend it strongly as an eminently readable and quite fascinating insight into the workings of the upper echelons of the public service and government. It also includes many revealing anecdotes and observations about key events in the health portfolio [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health reform, Media-related issues, NHMRC, public health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Does Andrew Podger tell all?

August 26, 2009 – 5:36 pm

Bernard Keane has given a warmish plug to former Health Department Secretary and Public Service Commissioner Andrew Podger’s new book, The Role of Departmental Secretaries: Personal reflections on the breadth of responsibilities today, describing it as an “important(ish)” book. Happily, it also sounds like Podger has spilt a few beans, as well as taking a [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Indigenous health, Media-related issues | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Stop exploiting us – consumers tell ophthalmologists

August 26, 2009 – 3:55 pm

“Patients will suffer if the Government does this.” It’s a time-honoured line that the powerful players in the health and medical industry are quick to trot out when their interests are threatened. Sometimes they’re right – that patients’ or the broader community’s interests are at stake. But often the real agenda is much more about [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in conflicts of interest, consumer health information, health reform | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (8)

Some thorny questions on home medicine reviews, medical publishing and other matters

August 26, 2009 – 10:54 am

Some time ago, an editor with long experience in the medical publishing industry and I were dreaming about creating a new type of health publication that wouldn’t take the narrow focus of so many of the existing professional publications. It’s not surprising, of course, that magazines like Australian Doctor, Medical Observer or the latter’s new [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in adverse events, health reform, Hospitals, Journal articles, Media-related issues, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)

Some ideas for health reform that could happen NOW: cancer chief

August 25, 2009 – 9:06 am

The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s final report made numerous recommendations, many of which require a great deal more work before they could be considered ready for implementation. It seems unlikely that changes will happen quickly. However, Professor Ian Olver, CEO of Cancer Council Australia, has a few suggestions for reforms that could be [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in cancer, health reform, Hospitals, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

DrinkWise – making a splash but is it a bellyflop?

August 24, 2009 – 1:47 pm

DrinkWise, an organisation established by the alcohol industry to promote a “safer drinking culture”, is in the news today over its release of a new education program about teenage drinking. But probably not for the reasons it would like. Professor Simon Chapman (a regular Crikey/Croakey contributor) is in the Sydney Morning Herald, calling it: ”classic [...]

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

Calling for the reports that are gathering dust or otherwise buried…

August 24, 2009 – 12:59 pm

The Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents (CRUD) played a small part in contributing to a recent Sydney Morning Herald series about critical issues surrounding suicide prevention, by Investigations Editor Ruth Pollard. Croakey was able to pass on the Evaluation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, which was listed on the CRUD back in April, and [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents, Media-related issues, mental health | Tagged , | Comments (0)

An experienced patient asks: Who benefits from private health insurance?

August 24, 2009 – 12:40 pm

Oh, the discomfort and the peril of trying to juggle while straddling a barbed wire fence. That, at least, is the image that comes to Croakey’s mind when listening to Health Minister Roxon on the hustings recently, arguing that it is only fair and fiscally responsible that there be means testing of Government subsidies for [...]

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