I’ve been struck by how public debate has framed changes to the private health insurance rebate as “an attack on middle class welfare”.
This distracts attention from the arguably more important issue that PHI is considered by many to be an inefficient, inequitable way of funding health care. It also seems to undermine community understanding of [...]
Professor John Wakerman, Director, Centre for Remote Health, A joint Centre of Flinders University & Charles Darwin University, writes:
1. Hospitals have done well.
2. Indigenous health: continuing support for closing the gap is wellreceived. Continuing support for the Expanded Health Services Delivery
Initiative in NT is welcome. We need this strategic approach toimproving PHC services nationally, not [...]
Andrew Podger writes:
The health budget contains a lot of positives. Bearing in mind the major spending initiatives of the last 18 months, including the new Australian Health Care Agreements (reversing the serious neglect of public hospitals by the Howard Government) and Indigenous health services, the Government deserves congratulations for including additional spending measures that will [...]
Health policy expert Dr Yvonne Luxford writes:
Nobody expected a generous budget, and at first blush the health budget is definitely not generous.
However, the good news is that the vital area of Indigenous health has received a strong influx of funding (apparently not to be distributed via the jurisdictions), and the programs to incentivise a rural [...]
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
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Also posted in Health inequalities, Hospitals, Indigenous health, alcohol, chronic diseases, health ethics, health reform, mental health, prevention, primary health care, public health, quality and safety of health care, tobacco control
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Tagged alcohol, federal budget, health budget, pathology, preventive health, private health insurance, radiology, tobacco
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Brett Forge, a physician and cardiologist from Warragul in Victoria, has sent in the
following comments regarding his inclusion on the Crikey Register of Influence:
Dear Crikey
Many thanks for the dubious honour of being included on your register of influence.
It is an inadequate way of investigating medical corruption but it may at least start a discussion on [...]
By Croakey
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Also posted in Crikey register of influence, conflicts of interest, evidence-based issues, health & medical marketing, health and medical research, health ethics, quality and safety of health care, surgery
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Tagged absolute risk, bypass surgery, cardiology, cholesterol, conflicts of interest, hypertension, medical education, pharmaceutical industry, stenting
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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 [...]
February 16, 2009 – 3:05 pm
Ian McAuley, health economist, Centre for Policy Development and University of Canberra, critiques the interim report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, released today:
Although some of its ideas such as a Commonwealth takeover of primary care and the “Denticare” scheme have attracted publicity, it is a timidly-written document, ducking the big issues we [...]
February 3, 2009 – 10:23 am
Mark Ragg, whose recent report, Fine, but not fair, has generated some interesting debate about health inequalities, has a question for readers:
“Thanks all who provided comment. I accept both bouquets for presentation and brickbats for not digging deeply enough. I’d like to point out, as a meager defence, that I was well aware of the [...]
February 3, 2009 – 10:01 am
Catherine Beadnell, editor of the Australian Nursing Journal, adds to the ongoing Croakey debate about the unfairness built into the Australian health system:
“In response to Mark Ragg’s column I think the system is unfair and the Howard Government’s efforts to reduce the Medicare burden on Treasury by propping up private health insurance has led to [...]
