With less than a week to go before the Federal Budget 2013, the leaks and rumours (and rumours about leaks) are increasing and speculation about possible new funding measures is mounting. The following analysis looks at the main items on the wish-lists of eight peak health groups and identifies key issues on which there is [...]
READ MOREWork in the Media? 5 Tests you must take now!
Dr Tim Senior, a GP working in Aboriginal health, provides the following advice for anyone reporting on medical tests (or indeed anyone wanting to understand the media’s reporting of screening and test issues)… “I need a prostate check and a colonoscopy” “Oh. What makes you say that?” “Well, I was listening in 2GB the other [...]
READ MOREAccreditation – is it money and time well spent?
Many thanks to Dr Anne-marie Boxall, Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research and Drs Reece Hinchcliff and David Greenfield from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation for providing the following insights into the evidence behind accreditation programs: Accreditation programs are deployed widely to monitor and promote safety and quality in healthcare. Governments, health service organisations and accreditation agencies have invested considerable [...]
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High-speed broadband is high on the federal election agenda for the rural health lobby
The availability of high-speed broadband in rural and remote areas will be a critical election issue if rural health advocates have their way. The 12th National Rural Health Conference in Adelaide made 17 priority recommendations for advancing the health of rural and remote communities, with equitable access to high-speed broadband at the top of the [...]
READ MOREDon’t bury the benefits of research to improve the health system
Professor Stephen Leeder writes: If you missed the release of the McKeon review on Friday you’re not alone. The Commonwealth government released theStrategic Review of Health and Medical Research just before the weekend – a time usually reserved for reports the government would rather bury – and it barely got a mention in the mainstream media. [...]
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An update on efforts to reduce Indigenous smoking rates
On-the-ground community engagement is central to efforts to reduce smoking rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, according to Dr Tom Calma, national coordinator of the Tackling Indigenous Smoking initiative. In his presentation to the 12th National Rural Health Conference in Adelaide yesterday, Dr Calma gave an overview of the program’s work, and rebuffed [...]
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At a time of uncertainty about the future of Indigenous health funding, the case for a greater spend in the community controlled sector
An important national agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes is due to expire at the end of June. As future funding arrangements are developed, it is important that decision making is informed by reliable data and contextual understanding, says Selwyn Button, CEO of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. *** For [...]
READ MORENHMRC weighs into dietary guidelines debate
NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson responds to recent comments on Croakey about environment and the Australian Dietary Guidelines. During the four years over which the Australian Dietary Guidelines were drafted, attacks on the contents came from many quarters. There are many vested interests so these attacks were not unexpected. The most effective means of countering [...]
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In a time of need, the Lowitja Institute is asking for your support
The future of the Lowitja Institute – Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that is solely focused on facilitating research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health – is in doubt due to a funding crisis. The Institute’s Chair, Patricia Anderson, writes below that the Institute has a strong record of achievement, and [...]
READ MOREAnother challenge to the mouse model
Many thanks to Monika Merkes PhD, Honorary Associate, Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing, La Trobe University for the following update on the issue of animal research. Dr Merkes writes: A team of medical researchers has recently issued another challenge to the still widely held view that animal research benefits humans. Dr Junhee Seok, together with 38 [...]
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