Category Archives: Health inequalities

Sounding the alarm over cutbacks to Qld organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health

May 21, 2012 – 6:28 pm

It seems that some high-need areas are being targeted for cuts by the new Queensland Government. The prison advocacy group Sisters Inside has been in the news over its concerns about the future of services to women inside Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre (TWCC) – most of whom are Indigenous. As the tweet below suggests, there are [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in HIV/AIDS, Indigenous health, public health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , | Comments (5)

Introducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications

May 16, 2012 – 8:11 pm

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 [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, climate change, disasters, evidence-based issues, legal issues, Media-related issues, public health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, women's health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Is the post-budget “class warfare” discussion helpful for public health?

May 16, 2012 – 7:04 pm

Have the Coalition’s Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey done public health a favour (even if unintentionally) by putting the issue of class on the table for debate? Health economist Professor Gavin Mooney suggests in the article below that those with a concern for population health and health inequalities should not shy away from a class-based [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Federal Budget 2012-2013, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

What are the health implications of building more prisons?

May 16, 2012 – 1:51 pm

Update, May 22: Extra material has been added at the bottom of this post about an assessment of the likely impact of a new correctional facility in Gatton, Queensland. *** Health journalists (and our audiences) might get better stories come budget time if we looked beyond the health department papers. That is one of the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in education, evidence-based issues, Federal Budget 2012-2013, health impact assessment, Hospitals, illicit drugs, Indigenous health, public health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Where is the health sector when it comes to addressing poverty?

May 7, 2012 – 11:16 am

The Government’s pre-budget announcement of dental health funding is generating plenty of commentary from various health groups. The Consumers Health Forum is largely welcoming of the dental announcement, although noting some of the obstacles ahead, including that over 80% of Australia’s dentists work in private practice. The Doctors Reform Society is making similar “this is [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in dental care, Federal Budget 2012-2013, health reform, Hospitals, mental health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Out-of-pocket health costs: adding to the burden on patients

May 4, 2012 – 5:21 pm

Recent reports highlight the economic hardship facing many patients with chronic diseases, according to Kellie Bisset, editor of the HARC e-Bulletin and Communications Director at the Sax Institute.   She cites a suggestion that researchers and policymakers have been too complacent about the relatively high out-of-pocket costs faced by Australian patients. Time will tell whether the forthcoming [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, evidence-based issues, health and medical research | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Overuse of healthcare: some suggestions for how to tackle it

April 29, 2012 – 8:01 am

As mentioned recently, the issues of overdiagnosis and overtreatment are in the spotlight, with the Choosing Wisely campaign recently launched in the US, with the backing of medical societies and consumer groups, urging doctors and patients to identify tests and treatments that may not be necessary. Overuse of healthcare also received star billing at the recent [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in conflicts of interest, evidence-based issues, health financing and costs, health reform, Naked Doctor | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

A red letter day for rural and remote health – provided these questions can be answered

April 27, 2012 – 1:15 pm

How will our two-speed economy constrain efforts to improve rural and remote health across the various states and territories? How can we get the balance right in rural and remote health policy between national uniformity and local flexibility and appropriateness? How can we ensure that the many agencies involved in addressing rural and remote health [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, Medicare Locals, National Preventive Health Agency, rural and remote health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Lack of access to dental care is putting children in hospital and entrenching disadvantage

April 19, 2012 – 8:51 pm

Should you think this recent post was a little harsh, in condemning the obfuscation and lack of clarity in many health communications, try having a read of this recent report produced by the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Titled Dental health of Indigenous children in the Northern [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in child health, health workforce, Indigenous health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

The unhealthy trifecta: tobacco, alcohol and gambling industries

April 19, 2012 – 6:36 pm

While those with a concern for public health may be familiar with some similarities between the tobacco and alcohol industries, it’s time to include the gambling industry in this analysis. That’s the suggestion from Dr Charles Livingstone, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University. *** Gambling needs to be tackled as [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, gambling, public health, social determinants of health, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)