Are our policies and laws leading to treatment delays for people with schizophrenia? It seems so, suggests a review of the evidence around involuntary treatment orders, conducted by the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research and Schizophrenia Research Institute. *** Time for a rethink around involuntary treatment for people with schizophrenia Dr Anne-marie Boxall writes: [...]
READ MOREThe Philip Morris case illustrates some wider dangers for public health from trade agreements
Efforts by the tobacco company Philip Morris to claim hefty compensation for Australia’s plain packaging laws under secretive legal processes should alarm those with a concern for public health, according to Dr Patricia Ranald, Convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET) and Research Associate, University of Sydney. The case also has implications [...]
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A wrap of reaction to the High Court decision on plain packaging
Update, 16 Aug: more reaction has been added at the bottom of the post Today’s High Court finding on plain packaging of cigarettes has provoked an outpouring of public health air punching. The President of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, Professor Mike Daube, is quoted in the SMH describing it as ”the global tobacco industry’s worst [...]
READ MOREFor more information on GlaxoSmithKline and the biggest healthcare fraud settlement in US history
(Extra details were added on July 4 – see bottom of the post). Longstanding investigations into GlaxoSmithKline’s sales, marketing and pricing practices in the US have resulted in the largest healthcare fraud settlement ($US 3 billion) in that country’s history. According to a statement by the Deputy Attorney General James M Cole: GSK will plead [...]
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 [...]
READ MOREWhen will policy catch up with the science on drug prohibition?
The previous post examined some of the health implications of Victoria’s plans to build a new prison. In the article below, Dr Alex Wodak, President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, suggests that drug law reform offers a more effective and humane alternative to prison-building. *** Crime and drugs: get tough or get smart? The Victorian [...]
READ MOREIn case you missed this series on the need for drug law reform
Australia21 is an independent, non-profit organisation involved in multidisciplinary research and inquiry on issues of strategic importance to Australia. Its concern with public health is not surprising given that its board members include Emeritus Professor Bob Douglas and physician/law reform advocate Dr Alex Wodak. It recently released a report titled “The prohibition of illicit drugs [...]
READ MOREPrimary health care: when and where did it all begin?
Continuing the primary health care theme of the previous post, health policy expert Professor Philip Davies investigates the history of the terms “primary care” and “primary health care” – a topical matter given the legal action recently dropped by Primary Health Care Ltd. *** Tracking the long history of primary health care Philip Davies writes: After [...]
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Why won’t the Federal Government support a no fault compo scheme for vaccine-related injuries?
The Federal Government needs to do a much better job of explaining the reasons for its reluctance to introduce a no fault compensation scheme for vaccine-related injuries, according to Associate Professor Heath Kelly. To date, the responses to calls for such a scheme have not been helpful, he suggests. *** Why won’t the Government support [...]
READ MOREConstitutional recognition and Indigenous health
Sixty-two per cent of voters support changing the Constitution to recognise Indigenous people as the country’s first inhabitants, according to a poll reported today in the Sydney Morning Herald. (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-aims-to-time-it-right-as-voters-back-race-equality-20120206-1r1wo.html) In the article below, Professor Pat Dudgeon, an Indigenous psychologist, continues the theme of recent Croakey articles exploring the health implications of such recognition. (This [...]
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