MCHP Comment on the PM's announcement that the Australian Government will become the majority funder of the public hospital system and change the way it pays for hospital services by funding Local Hospital Networks.
Answering hard health questions Canberra Times, 4 March 2010, By The Canberra Times and Stephen Leeder, (English)
Since the last federal election in 2007, there has been lively debate about the shape of our future health service. Kevin Rudd came to power promising that hospitals would be different.
Alarm bells sound over Rudd’s hospital plan ABC 7.30 Report
There are alarm bells about just how the Federal Government proposes to reduce the most vexing health issue of all - hospital waiting lists. Already Prime Minister Rudd has guaranteed any public patient forced to wait three months will be given free treatment at a private hospital instead – posing questions about the future of private health insurance. Stephen Leeder is interviewed in this story. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2836958.htm
Experts see flaws in rewards for thrifty hospitals The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 March 2010, 498 Julie Robotham HEALTH EDITOR, (English)
RADICAL SURGERY HOSPITALS would be rewarded for reducing spending under the federal health reform plan, but experts say this could distort patients' treatment and may not account sufficiently for differences between states. Jim Gillespie is quoted in this article. http://www.smh.com.au/national/experts-see-flaws-in-rewards-for-thrifty-hospitals-20100303-pj42.html
HEALTH POLICY EXPERT WELCOMES PLAN
The following information was released by the Australian National University: The Prime Minister's health announcement today [Wednesday 3 March 2010] represents a significant commitment by the Commonwealth Government to provide a national ... Robert Wells. http://news.anu.edu.au/?p=1992
Rudd vows to end health blame game New Zealand Herald, 4 March 2010
Govt says sweeping changes will be biggest reform since Medicare overhaul of 1984 CANBERRA - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced a sweeping overhaul of Australia's overloaded public health system in what will be one of the most important ... Robert Wells is quoted in this article. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10629786
Top 10 health reform questions for the PM Crikey, 3 March 2010, by Melissa Sweet, (English)
While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today is unveiling his government’s plans for health reform, what should journalists be asking him and ministers Nicola Roxon and Warren Snowdon in the days that follow? Melissa Sweet reports. Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/03/03/top-10-health-reform-questions-for-the-pm/
The Diabetes Unit changes its name to Health and Sustainability Unit
To better reflect the true scope of its current role and future intent of its increasingly ‘ecological’ focus on health - notably chronic disease prevention - as both an output and an input to a sustainable future, as of January 1, 2010, The Diabetes Unit changed its name to the Health and Sustainability Unit.
The Health and Sustainability Unit (HSU) will still incorporate The Diabetes Unit and its functions but will increasingly turn its attention more discretely to health and sustainability - that complex interaction between the health of people and the health of the planet. HSU will continue to concentrate on:
building and analysing the evidence base for intervening
identifying and testing innovative health and public policy solutions
engaging and working collaboratively with a range of relevant private and public sector players
raising awareness of the link between the socio determinants of health, and economic and environmental sustainability
New Publication: Medical home is where the heart is
Click on the above link to read Professor Stephen Leeder's guest editorial in Australian Doctor. An introduction to the article is below:
The idea of a ‘medical home’ — a place where we are understood and, indeed, loved — taps into deep feelings. It need not be grand or super (McClinic) in style, just ours.
‘Medical home’ has gained currency in the US as it debates healthcare reform. In a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, academic primary care practitioners Walter Rosser et al., from Canada and Missouri, wrote about 10 years of Canadian experience with Ontario’s Family Health Teams, which are like medical homes.
While Canada adopted a universal health insurance program in 1969, upon which Australia’s Medibank was modelled, after about 1980 family doctors began to struggle, with rising costs and falling incomes pressuring physicians to increase the number of patient visits. Interest in family medicine in Ontario subsequently declined.
New Publication: Role of general practitioners in managing age-related hearing loss
Schneider J, Gopinath B, McMahon C, Britt H, Harrison C, Usherwood T, Leeder S, Mitchell P. Role of general practitioners in managing age-related hearing loss, MJA 2010; 192 (1): 20-23.
Using data from two key Australian studies, the BMHS and Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) surveys, the aim of this study was to ascertain the extent to which GPs are actively engaged in identifying and facilitating the management of hearing loss among older people.
The study found that levels of identification and management of hearing loss by GPs in Australia are relatively low. Read more at http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/192_01_040110/sch10686_fm.html
2009 Year in Review
2009 was an extremely active year for Australian health policy. The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission finalised its report as did the Preventative Services Taskforce. Understandably, the two documents generated discussion among health service professionals and among patients and the community more broadly. Several of the public meetings held by the Menzies Centre for Health Policy in Sydney and in Canberra were stimulated by the reports and their recommendations. The Centre's Fellow, Dr Lesley Russell was in strong demand by the media for comment. Dr Russell has been on secondment in the US for several months, observing the process of health service reform that has dominated the political agenda in Washington.
37 peer reviewed papers, book chapters, or books authored by Menzies Centre staff;
22 articles written by Menzies Centre staff and published in industry publications;
36 articles written by Menzies Centre staff and published in print media, generally as an opinion piece;
49 occasions where Menzies Centre staff have either been interviewed for a print, radio or television piece, or have been quoted in a print, radio or television piece;
53 articles written by Menzies Centre staff and published online;
18 commissioned and non-commissioned reports prepared by Menzies Centre staff; and
51 conference presentations given by Menzies Centre staff.
11 public seminars/events with an average attendance of 100 guests. Notable attendances included:
210 attendees at the April Disease Determinants seminar: We have the maps but can we follow the tracks? Our journey to being the healthiest country by 2020;
138 attendees at the 4th Annual Emerging Health Policy Research Conference; and
155 attendees at the Inaugural S T Lee Lecture: Global Health Governance - A Search for Meaning.
Staff recognition:
Associate Professor Ruth Colagiuri was elected Vice-President of the International Diabetes Federation for the 2009 – 2012 Triennium.
Professor Stephen Leeder was awarded two Sidney Sax medals: the Public Health Association of Australia Sidney Sax Medal for 2009, and the 2009 Sidney Sax Medal from the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association.
In addition to its public meetings and media work, the Menzies Centre is also actively engaged in education through the Master of Health Policy at the University of Sydney, the Master of Public Health and the Australian National University.
The dominant research project of the Menzies Centre remains the NHMRC-funded program of inquiry into the needs and attitudes of patients with chronic illness. Opportunities for translating what has been learned from this major project have opened up in western Sydney, especially through opportunities to evaluate chronic care programs and in the ACT.
New grants received in 2009 include:
A $1.8M NHMRC Capacity Building Grant that will use health economics to strengthen ties between evidence, policy and practice in chronic diseases. Professor Stephen Leeder will work with colleagues at The George Institute for International Health and the School of Public Health.
A National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership for Better Health Grant. The project is entitled ‘Developing service policies for Australians with dual sensory impairment: An integrated, collaborative pilot project’. NHMRC grant awarded: $318,651; Partner contributions: $197,211 cash and $121,440 in-kind. Project duration: 3 years.
A Biosecurity Grant with a project title of ‘Securitisation and Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: Global and Australian Perspectives’. Grant awarded: $46,990 for 1 year.
A National Seniors Australia grant. The project is entitled ‘Improving Health Literacy in Seniors with Chronic Illness’. Grant awarded: $49,707 for 1 year.
A 2010 University of Sydney International Program Development Fund (IPDF) seeding grant for 2010 for $14,000. The project is entitled ‘Breakthrough Collaborative Research Project to Reduce Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).
The future challenge for the MCHP relates to securing core support for Centre staff. This is crucial to enable the Centre to progress its agenda in research, education and community service. An expanded Centre Board should enable this to be achieved and a refreshed strategic agenda established.
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Please visit What's New to read a range of comments from MCHP Staff on the PM's announcement that the Australian Government will become the majority funder of the public hospital system.
Richard Smith, Director, UnitedHealth Chronic Disease Initiative and former Editor of the British Medical Journal.
Monday, 22 March, 5.30 pm at the University of Sydney.
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