Most non-urgent elective surgery in Adelaide’s public hospitals was cancelled last week and some patients transferred to neighbouring regional hospitals after SA Health faced its busiest day (so far) this winter. In the post below, Professor Jon Karnon asks what could have and should be done better to both prevent and manage demand, with the […]
*** Statement by AHHA and PHAA Long-term vision needed if Australia wants to keep universal healthcare “For Australians to have an accessible, equitable and efficient universal healthcare system our political leaders need to consider sustainable and durable long-term funding arrangements that support an efficient and holistic health system, rather than just short-term fixes,” said Alison Verhoeven, […]
Her life changed more than 20 years ago when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It was too late for insulin tablets to take effect and, despite Ina’s best efforts, her condition deteriorated to renal disease. She needed dialysis. She made the incredibly hard decision to leave her homelands, family and friends and move […]
There’s confusion about what is or isn’t on the table for cuts after Health Minister Sussan Ley conceded the Senate won’t pass increased patient contributions for PBS drugs, but said the $1 billion ‘savings’ will have to be found elsewhere. See more below for how it unfolded. But if the Minister and the Federal Government […]
The Federal Coalition last week announced it was launching a new advertising campaign aimed at educating families and the broader community about the dangers of the drug ice, or crystal methamphetamine. Health Minister Sussan Ley said it would assist the National Ice Taskforce, announced last month by the Prime Minister. See its key points in […]
The Federal Government appears to have gotten away, politically at least, with the massive cut it made in last year’s Budget to funding promised to the states for hospitals, says the Grattan Institute’s John Daley. For all the protests, he says most of the states will respond as they usually do, “with piecemeal increases to […]
Pharmacy agreement The AMA is also at odds with the Federal Government over its announcement it had reached in-principle agreement with pharamacists on the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement, valued at $18.9 billion investment over the next five years. The AMA criticised the decision to “dramatically increase funding to the pharmacy sector…while doctors and patients are […]
Dental care is also a big concern. See this wrap from health experts at The Conversation, which says the biggest surprise about this year’s health budget was what wasn’t there – billions of expected savings from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It said: In the past week, pharmacists and drug companies have widely reported as […]
Prior to entering parliament, Richard was a general practitioner and public health specialist. He worked in Aboriginal health in the Northern Territory, on HIV prevention in India and in the drug and alcohol sector. His key health priorities include preventative health, public dental care and responding to the health impacts of climate change. Richard’s achievements […]
