Archived News for Health Sector Professionals

Representatives of some of the largest pharmaceutical companies have accused the Federal Government of reneging on a deal in which they accepted to charge less for their product in return for policy stability.

The Victorian Government is providing funding of $1.6 million to support the operation of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund over the next four years.

Two studies conducted by the University of Western Australia show that early detection of diabetic retinopathy, swelling of the retina caused by diabetes mellitus, can significantly reduce its severity.

Former New South Wales Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Health Minister, Dr Andrew Refshauge has been appointed as the new Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for a three-year term.

He will replace the outgoing Chair, Peter Collins.

Acting Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler also announced the appointment of three new members of the AIHW board—Mr James Moore, Ms Samantha Page and Ms Jessica Cumming.

The New South Wales Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, Jillian Skinner, has announced an investment of more than $30 million in cancer research projects across seven major NSW research centres.

The Queensland State Government has announced the opening of Townsville Hospital’s new North Block, the state’s largest emergency department (ED).

The Queensland Government has announced that it will focus on rectifying underpayments to Queensland Health staff, including nurses and midwives.

The Cardiac Catheter Laboratory in the Ballarat Base Hospital is nearing completion. The cardiac laboratory is part of a $20 million redevelopment of the hospital, which also includes upgrade of the special care nursery and maternity outpatients ward.

The Victorian State Government has announced it will invest $2 million for a redevelopment of the Ballan District Health and Care Hospital.

The Federal Government has called for local governments to apply for over $26 million in the latest round of the Healthy Communities Grants.

The Australian Medical Association has launched an online petition as part of its campaign to convince the Government to restore funding for GP mental health services through Medicare under the Better Access Program.

Work has begun on the $41 million Berri Hospital Redevelopment in South Australia.

NSW Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, has launched a website offering real-time information on the number of patients waiting for treatment in 58 emergency departments across the state.

The national peak body for not-for-profit aged care providers, Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) has announced plans to pursue a merger with the for-profit peak, Aged Care Association Australia (ACAA).

ACSA President Klaus Zimmermann said the ACSA Board has resolved to seek support of its State members for a merged national body. It is proposed that the existing State Associations of ACSA and ACAA become the members of the new national entity.

“The merger or restructure of our organisation has been an ongoing debate for many years,” Mr Zimmermann said.

“The Government’s commitment to reform the aged care system and the Productivity Commission inquiry provided an unprecedented impetus to resolve the issue once and for all.

“The proposed Productivity Commission reforms will require consensus and support from all stakeholders including consumers, providers, health professionals and government.

“Aged care providers will be at the forefront of the reforms and a new national peak will help provide a stronger focus for the industry.”

In the past 12 months ACSA has investigated a range of options for restructure and consulted members widely.

“Maintaining a federation of states with a merged national peak emerged as the preferred option following a recent member survey undertaken by McGregor Tan Research,” Mr Zimmermann said.

The ACSA membership will be asked to vote on the proposed merger at a general meeting in November this year.

“ACSA will also build on its strong links with ACAA to pursue the goal of a single voice for aged care.”

A taskforce of three ACSA Board members will oversee the transition process to a new organisation.

A consortium headed by McKinsey and Company has been selected to lead the national change and adoption process as Australia moves to introduce Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (PCEHR) next year.

Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, said the National Change and Adoption Partner will help educate and support the training and information needs of the health workforce who will use the system.

“The consortium will plan, design and develop training, guidance and tools in collaboration with clinicians and software providers. It will also provide change management support for clinicians including at the 12 lead implementation sites.

The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler has released the Report of the Independent Review of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002.

Mr Butler said the independent Review Committee, chaired by the Hon Peter Heerey QC, had indicated its view that the basic structure of the legislation should remain, while making recommendations about the framework for human embryo research.

“The 33 recommendations that were produced relate largely to updating and clarifying the legislation, or keeping existing requirements.  The recommendations reflect the Committee’s careful consideration of more than 260 submissions, as well as information provided in appearances before the Committee," Mr Butler said.

“The legislative framework will need to continue to balance the needs of health and medical researchers, who aim to improve human health, with the social and ethical challenges in human embryo research."

The Report of the Independent Review of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 can be found at www.legislationreview.nhmrc.gov.au.

Health care businesses generated $43 billion in income, and spent over $32 billion on expenses, according to a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).


Australia's private sector health care businesses operated from 101,725 locations providing medical and other health care to 22.3 million people.


These businesses employed or contracted 188,000 registered practitioners and other health care professionals, at the end of June 2010, with a further 145,000 other staff providing support for the same period.


Primary health care services (general practitioner, specialist and dental services) operated from 68,877 locations with the majority of these services (over 75%) located in capital cities and suburbs.


Primary health care services employed or contracted 111,000 registered practitioners and other health care professionals and saw 6 million patients in an average working week.


Further information is in Health Care Services, Australia 2009-10 (cat. no 8570.0).

Doctor Suzanne Hill has been appointed as the new chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), the independent advisory group which recommends listing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The merger of public sector superannuation fund, First State Super with Health Super on 30 June 2011 has created a super fund with over $30 billion and more than 770,000 members.

The Western Australian Government has announced that $147 million will be spent upgrading six country hospitals, the largest single investment in regional healthcare in WA’s history, according to the Premier Colin Barnett.