• New Report: Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: Progress towards this important goal
• 2010 Election Commentary
• New Report: Analysis of the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Budget
• Policy Innovations Seminar Series (Local Hospital Networks and the Health Reform Agenda): Recording and online debate
• New Publications: Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series
• Policy Innovations Seminar Series (Mental Health): Recording and online debate
• MCHP Comment on Health Reform
• Directors' Reports

New Report: Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: Progress towards this important goal

Dr Lesley Russell and Dr Sarah Wenham have released the following report:

Russell L, Wenham S. Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: Progress towards this important goal, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, July 2010.

2010 Election Commentary

Opinion Pieces

• Dog's breakfast on health
  The Age, 19 August 2010, 863 words, Stephen Leeder is director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at the University of Sydney., (English)
  The policies are all over the place, and whoever gets in needs to get it together. IT WAS Bismarck who reputedly observed that those who love sausages or laws or both should not watch them being made. He could have said much the same about ...
  

• Coalition's stance on IT has serious consequences
  Canberra Times, 16 August 2010, 770 words, By The Canberra Times, (English)
  Fiscal conservatism ranks high as a political virtue in this election campaign, but sometimes it can be taken to extremes. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the Coalition's approach to IT

• Co-payments keep patients at bay: healthcare reform
  The Australian, 7 August 2010, STEPHEN LEEDER, (English)
  THE amount Australians pay directly for health care -- from their own pockets -- is rising rapidly and is a health hazard.
• Diabetes plan deserves a go
  The Australian, 31 July 2010, 966 words, ROBERT WELLS, (English)
  THE Australian Medical Association is using the results of a recent survey to make an incorrect claim.

• Health reform must include out-of-pocket expenses
  Canberra Times, 28 July 2010, 802 words, By Lesley Russell, (English)
  Health care does not appear to be a key issue for any political party in this year's election campaign. It's hard to believe that's a response to electorate priorities; more likely it represents the failure of either the Government or the Opposition to see health-care costs as a key economic indicator and health-care access as a key social indicator.

Reports

• Russell L, Wenham S. Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: Progress towards this important goal, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, July 2010.

Interviews and Quotes

• Deadlock bad news for Labor reform plans in health
  The Australian, 23 August 2010, 422 words, ADAM CRESSWELL, (English)
  HEALTH KEY planks of Julia Gillard's health reform program have been thrown into doubt, with experts warning the chance of significant changes to the system have probably evaporated along with Labor's parliamentary majority.
  Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• You may as well kiss goodbye to real health reform, whoever wins, Croakey, 17 August 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder contributes to this article.

• Nurses, reformers spare no mercy on an 'unfortunate rethink'
  The Australian, 6 August 2010, 497 words, Adam Cresswell, Nicola Berkovic, (English)
  REACTION STATES, professional bodies and health reform advocates panned the Coalition's health plan yesterday, with nurses scoring it two out of 10 and others saying it would tear up more than two years of work to improve the system.
  Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.

• Tony Abbott nurses health vision
  The Australian, 6 August 2010, 742 words, Nicola Berkovic, Adam Cresswell, (English)
  TONY Abbott has not given up his ambitions for a commonwealth takeover of public hospitals, but has vowed that he will not force the states into such a dramatic policy shift.
  Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Long-term treatment needed as both sides stall on health reform
  The Australian, 27 July 2010, 653 words, Sean Parnell, Adam Cresswell, (English)
  THE nation's leading health economists and advocates fear the Labor reforms did not go far enough, leaving Australia at risk from an ageing population, limited resources and rising medical bills.
  Professor Stephen Leeder and Mr Robert Wells are quoted in this article.
• Public health, private equity
  The Australian, 24 July 2010, 893 words, LEIGH DAYTON, ANDREW MAIN, (English)
  Australia's second-largest healthcare group has been sold to US interests NEWS that Australia's second largest private hospital operator, Healthscope, has been snapped up by a US private equity consortium is raising eyebrows in health ...
  Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Health experts warn cuts a threat to Labor reform
  The Australian, 1 July 2010, 432 words, ADAM CRESSWELL, (English)
  HEALTH reform experts warn the $1.5 billion worth of cuts the Coalition would introduce to pay for its mental health investments would ``pull the rug out'' from Labor's health reform before it has a chance to prove itself.
  Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.

New Report: Analysis of the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Budget

Dr Lesley Russell has completed her analysis of the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Budget:

Russell L. Analysis of the 2010-11 Health and Ageing Budget, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, June 2010.

Policy Innovations Seminar Series (Local Hospital Networks and the Health Reform Agenda): Recording and online debate

A recording of the proceedings of the seminar, Local Hospital Networks and the Health Reform Agenda, is available at http://www.menzieshealthpolicy.edu.au/events_past2010.php#lhns

Please also join the debate on Croakey: Snips, snipes and even a laugh…the latest in health reform news

New Publications: Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series

• Negin J, Robinson HM. Funding for HIV and Non-Communicable Diseases: Implications for Priority Setting in the Pacific Region, Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series, Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Number 1, March 2010.

• Negin J. Sector-Wide Approaches for health: an introduction to SWAps and their implementation in the Pacific region, Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series, Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Number 2, March 2010.

• Negin J. Sector-Wide Approaches for health: a comparative study of experiences in Samoa and the Solomon Islands, Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series, Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Number 3, March 2010.

• Negin J. Sector-Wide Approaches for health: lessons from Samoa and the Solomon Islands, Health Policy and Health Finance Knowledge Hub Working Paper Series, Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, Australia, Number 4, March 2010.

Policy Innovations Seminar Series (Mental Health): Recording and online debate

A recording of the proceedings of the seminar, Where is Mental Health in the Health Reform Agenda?, is available at http://www.menzieshealthpolicy.edu.au/events_past2010.php#mentalhealth

Please also join the debate on Croakey: What will health reform agenda mean for mental health?

MCHP Comment on Health Reform

Opinion Pieces

• Russell L.Winners and losers in Rudd's health-care reform, Canberra Times, 26 April 2010.
• Leeder S. Mission not yet accomplished: Medicare reform, The Australian, 24 April 2010.
• Russell L. Britain's model of health reform blows an ill wind, Canberra Times, 20 April 2010.
• Russell L. ATAPS review is hard to swallow, Canberra Times, 9 April 2010.
• Russell L. US finds prevention better than cure: healthcare reform, The Australian, 27 March 2010.
• Russell L. Govt has to step up to the plate, Canberra Times, 9 March 2010.
• Leeder S. Rudd's reforms a good start to fixing ailing health system, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 March 2010.
• Leeder S. Answering hard health questions, Canberra Times, 4 March 2010.

Interviews and Quotes

• Franklin M. Rifts open in Kevin Rudd's health plan, The Australian, 22 April 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Cresswell A, Maher S. Rampant bureaucracy `disaster' in waiting, The Australian, 22 April 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Fyfe M. Rudd has the mandate but not the perfect plan, The Age, 18 April 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Cresswell A. Diagnosis: state of mediocrity, The Australian, 15 April 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Breusch J. Healthcare catches a new wave, Australian Financial Review, 6 April 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Winestock G. What we can learn from US health reform, Australian Financial Review, 27-28 March 2010. Dr Lesley Russell is quoted in this story.
• Cresswell A, TKO yet contender drew blood, The Australian, 24 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Metherell M. Lack of detail, hospital focus disappoint critics, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder and Mr Robert Wells are quoted in this article.
• The Verdict, The Age, 24 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Breusch J, Mercer K. Operators want greater detail, Australian Financial Review, 24 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Health Debate, ABC 936 Hobart, 23 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder was interviewed in this story.
• Health Debate, Triple J Sydney, 23 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder was interviewed in this story
• NPC Rudd / Abbott debate. Commentary before and after the debate. ABC News Radio, 23 March 2010. Dr Lesley Russell was interviewed in this story.
• Health care reform in Australia and the US. Sky News, 23 March 2010. Dr Lesley Russell was interviewed in this story.
• The Drum Wrap: Rudd vs Abbott, ABC The Drum, 23 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder and Dr Jim Gillespie contributed to this article.
• Metherell M. PM slammed for slashing spending on mental health, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 March 2010. Dr Lesley Russell is quoted in this story.
• Barron J. Health care reform - expert says the process isn’t over yet, ABC NewsRadio Sydney, 22 March 2010. Dr Lesley Russell was interviewed in this story.
• Hall L. Hospital networks too small for services, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Phillips K. Public hospitals - reform overseas, ABC RearVision, 10 March 2010. Dr Jim Gillespie contributes to the discussion.
• Cornwall D. Alarm bells sound over Rudd’s hospital plan, ABC 7.30 Report, 4 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is interviewed in this story.
• Robotham J. Experts see flaws in rewards for thrifty hospitals, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 March 2010. Dr Jim Gillespie is quoted in this article.
• Cresswell A. Experts say health blueprint 'will not prove an instant panacea', The Australian, 4 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder is quoted in this article.
• Ansley G. Rudd vows to end health blame game, New Zealand Herald, 4 March 2010. Robert Wells is quoted in this article.
• Leeder S. The feds are coming to a hospital near you, ABC The Drum Unleashed, 4 March 2010.
• ABC Illawarra - Interview with Stephen Leeder, 4 March.
• Sweet M. Top 10 health reform questions for the PM, Crikey, 3 March 2010. Professor Stephen Leeder and Mr Robert Wells are quoted in this article.

Directors' Reports

The following MCHP Directors' Reports are available on the website:

• July 2010
• March 2010
• October 2009
• June 2009