Category Archives: prevention

Why more dollars will not fix the health system

June 4, 2009 – 4:23 pm

For everyone who believes that simply spending more money is the answer to the health system’s woes, this new report should be essential reading.
It’s a review of the evidence about efficiency and health systems, released today as a National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission background paper.
Here, after a speed read, are some of the more [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Hospitals, health reform, primary health care, private health insurance | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Some reading you mustn’t miss

May 19, 2009 – 9:46 am

While the front pages and buckets of airtime are being devoured by the question of whether the wealthy should have to pay more for their private health insurance, there are other, far more important things that you could be reading about.
The 18 May edition of the Medical Journal of Australia is devoted to Indigenous health,  [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Food, Health inequalities, Hospitals, Indigenous health, Journal articles, Media-related issues, childbirth and maternity services, chronic diseases, dental care, private health insurance, public health, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (2)

Treasury’s role in health and other interesting insider insights

May 14, 2009 – 3:56 pm

The latest edition of the Public Health Bulletin of SA has an interesting report on a roundtable debate about some of the difficulties and dilemmas confronting the prevention agenda.
It’s interesting because the report – rather than massaging the discussions into bland, politically acceptable speak, as so often happens – has retained what sounds like a [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Food, Health inequalities, obesity, primary health care, public health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

The hidden nasties in the health budget

May 13, 2009 – 10:15 am

A well-placed anonymous source has identified some cutbacks in critical areas which, strangely enough, the Budget press releases are not spruiking. The source also raises some pertinent issues about the future of the National Preventive Health Agency. The source writes:
“I think Yvonne Luxford may be wrong  in her comment, on Croakey, that “the much needed [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Federal Budget 2009-2010, health reform | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

The federal budget and health: a Croakey survey

May 6, 2009 – 11:58 am

In the lead-up to the budget, Croakey has asked an assortment of public health and health policy types about their wishes and expectations.
Michael Moore, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia
In the initial budget for this government was a huge effort on hospital waiting lists and $$$ through to the States for improvements at the tertiary [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Health inequalities, Hospitals, Indigenous health, alcohol, chronic diseases, health ethics, health reform, mental health, primary health care, private health insurance, public health, quality and safety of health care, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

What is it about the whizz bang of gismos?

April 27, 2009 – 2:22 pm

The Government’s response to the 2020 ideas summit illustrates, once more, the enduring allure of the techno-fix.
If boosting research into the bionic eye is the best of the bright ideas in health, then clearly we are in dire need of some improved vision.
What a shame we didn’t end up with an idea like this instead [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in global health, health reform, public health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Some critical issues for clinical practice guidelines

April 27, 2009 – 10:08 am

Agnes Vitry, Senior Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, has sent in this detailed, thoughtful response to the recent Croakey survey on the issues surrounding the controversial, commercially-funded Australian and NZ guidelines for blood clot prevention (for more background, see previous Croakey posts).
Vitry’s comments are well worth a read:
1. [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Hospitals, Journal articles, conflicts of interest, evidence-based issues, health & medical marketing, pharmacy, surgery | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The guidelines controversy: what do the experts think?

April 23, 2009 – 11:18 am

Following the recent controversy about Australian and NZ guidelines for preventing blood clots, Croakey asked some relevant parties for their views on:
• whether  health departments, hospitals,  safety and quality groups be reviewing their support for these particular  guidelines in response to the concerns raised in the MJA and elsewhere?
• whether such agencies also review their [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Hospitals, Journal articles, Media-related issues, adverse events, conflicts of interest, evidence-based issues, health & medical marketing, quality and safety of health care, surgery, trauma | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Nitpicking the NHHRC report: what’s missing

February 16, 2009 – 4:06 pm

My first reaction, after an admittedly cursory speed-read, is that one of the key themes/motherhood statements of the report is sadly lacking.
The report repeatedly mentions the need for all of us – “people, families, communities, health professionals, employers and governments” – to individually and collectively take responsibility for our health.
I was struck that a large [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in health reform, private health insurance, public health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

It’s time to address the P-word in health care: Gavin Mooney

February 16, 2009 – 2:45 pm

Gavin Mooney, Professor of Health Economics, University of Sydney, writes:
The key to the future of the Australian health service lies with – or ought to lie with – the people of Australia. It is our health that is involved; and it ought to be seen as our health service.
Currently the health service is provider driven; [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in health reform, public health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)