For those wondering about the Coalition’s plans for health policy, some hints emerged when Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton spoke at an Australian Institute of Company Directors meeting this morning. Thanks to Dr Stephen Duckett, health program director at the Grattan Institute, for his tweet-reports, as per below:
READ MOREHow the Danes are incubating “health, wealth and innovation”
The Danes have been getting rave reviews lately for their excellent work onscreen (yes, Croakey has enjoyed plenty of couch time with Borgen, The Killing, The Bridge, and Lulu – The Bankrobber’s Wife…) But perhaps we can also learn from their innovative work in what is being called “welfare technology”. In the municipality of Odense, for [...]
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Some important questions about health policy and the federal election (aka your #qanda cheat sheet)
Health policy is up for debate this week thanks to ABC TV’s Q and A program, featuring Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Opposition’s health spokesman Peter Dutton. You can pose a question online and see some of the other questions that have already been lodged, including: Large corporate organisations have become major players in [...]
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The latest news from primary health care research: the impact of dementia on couples; and a six-step plan for creating equitable health care
The latest articles profiled by the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service include: • The impact of dementia upon married couples – findings from a qualitative systematic review; and • A roadmap for delivering equitable healthcare. *** ‘Pieces of me missing’: emotional losses arising from the impact of dementia on marriage Christina Hagger writes: Inexorable impairment [...]
READ MOREA wealth of analysis: on private health insurance premiums, disability reforms and food labelling
The Parliamentary Library has recently published analyses about the increase in private health insurance premiums, the National Disability Insurance Scheme legislation, and food labelling. Thanks to the Parliamentary Library for allowing cross-posting. Increase in PHI premiums Amanda Biggs tracks premium rises and the consumer price index (CPI) and shows that premium rises have been well [...]
READ MORESaving lives, saving money
Mark Cormack writes: Gideon Caplan’s study of “hospital in the home” services, see Croakey and the Medical Journal of Australia , is a welcome contribution to the debate around the important place of innovation in health reform. It’s a simple premise: when it is safe and appropriate, an individual needing treatment is far better to remain [...]
READ MOREPradaxa: Not so bleeding obvious
The decision to delay further the introduction of subsidies for the anti-stroke drug, Pradaxa, puts Australia at odds with the rest of the developed world. It also raises questions about the Government’s handling of Australia’s widely-respected Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, (PBAC). It was that committee which 18 months ago recommended that the new [...]
READ MOREA mega-wrap of public health and policy reading from Croakey contributors
Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please send your email or leave it below. Here is the latest compilation, covering articles posted between 11 April and 3 September. As always, thanks are due to the many contributors who generously volunteer [...]
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Breaking down the digital divide: two case studies
The digital divide crops up regularly as an issue of concern for public health. Below are details of two initiatives that are building some bridges across the divide: • Infoxchange Australia is providing free social media training for public housing residents in Melbourne and argues in the article below that “any organisation working to improve the [...]
READ MOREIntroducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications
Entrepreneurs and philanthropists take note: below are some terrific ideas for new health-related online publications. Croakey recently put out a call on behalf of the Public Interest Journalism Foundation for ideas for online publications covering health-related areas of need. One of the pitches will be developed during a session at the New News conference, which will [...]
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