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 MORE
A rather large wrap of health news from the Federal Budget – and some mixed reaction
This post offers an overview of health-related news from the Budget and a wrap of reaction. Here are links to: • Health and Ageing Budget statements • A table giving a quick overview of health spends and cuts • Ministerial press releases • Closing the Gap press release • The Treasurer’s speech ***
READ MORE
Health sector wish-lists: a pre-Budget round-up
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 MOREQ&A’s Health Debate: the experts respond
Reema Rattan writes: While the federal election is still months away, issues of health funding are already dominating the news. A Grattan Institute report released yesterday, for instance, noted the greatest budgetary pressure facing Australia comes from sustained increases in health costs. Last night, ABC TV’s Q&A featured Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Health [...]
READ MOREMark Bahnisch on the Qld Blueprint
Cross-posted from Crikey, Mark Bahnisch outlines why the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for Better Healthcare isn’t only important for Queenslanders…. After its first year was dominated by ministerial resignations and scandals on one hand and large scale spending and staff cuts on the other, Campbell Newman’s government has now revealed its hand. The findings of the [...]
READ MOREReporting on the National Medical Intern Summit (even though it was closed to the media…)
On Friday, the NSW Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, hosted a summit in Sydney to address concerns about the shortages in medical intern placements (details of the program are here). The meeting was closed to the media but – in an example of how social media is transforming the way we all work – there were plenty [...]
READ MOREForget the blame game, let’s focus on making health dollars go further
Anthony Scott writes: The latest round of the health blame game is in full swing, with service cuts to Victorian hospitals, and neither the state nor federal government taking responsibility. Commonwealth and Victorian health ministers Tanya Plibersek and David Davis met in Canberra on Wednesday for more talks, but were unable to come to a [...]
READ MOREFilling the gaps in Australia’s dental workforce
Peter Brooks and Mike Morgan write: Data released recently by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show the number of dentists has increased by 24% in the five years to 2011. There are now around 12,700 dentists in Australia, with 80% working in the private sector. Fearing an over-supply of dentists, the Australian Dental [...]
READ MOREExtreme weather events in Australia – a new challenge for health care provision.
Extreme weather events have made their presence felt in Australia over the last few years and are expected to become more frequent. Whether it is extreme heat, record flooding or tropical storms, these events share the common element of huge potential impact on morbidity and mortality for thousands of Australians. To date, events such as [...]
READ MORE
A terrible loss. Vale Gavin Mooney and Delys Weston
Such terrible, devastating news. Health economist Professor Gavin Mooney and his partner Delys Weston have been murdered in Tasmania (more details here from ABC and AAP). Gavin will be known to regular Croakey readers as a prolific contributor since this blog’s start. Delys had recently completed her PhD in the political economy of global warming. Gavin [...]
READ MORE
