RxPG News : Australia

Indian-origin couple banned from running nursing homes in Australia

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:22:52 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Sydney, July 18 - Indian-origin doctors Jagdish and Madhu Saraf have been banned from operating a nursing home in Adelaide for approving the cremation of a 71-year-old woman before a coroner's inquest into her death.

Australian Minister for Ageing Justine Elliott Friday banned the husband and wife doctors, trading as Bresant Pty Ltd, from operating aged care homes.

The minister said the company's history of significant and repeated non-compliance with their obligations, resulting in serious risk to the health, safety or well being of residents, was the basis for this decision.

South Australia's coroner Mark Johns said the death of Gladys Ruth Wells, found dead in her bed in July 2007 at Bresant Pty Ltd operated Brighton Aged Care Nursing Home, should have been reported to him before her body was cremated, reports the Australian Associated Press -.

The Sarafs had signed the elderly woman's death and cremation certificates and the cause of death was given as cardiac arrest, but the coroner said he was concerned over evidence that the elderly woman's body had been found in an unusual position, reports AAP.

'This has been a very sad episode and once again, I extend my condolences and sympathies to the family. The thousands of hard working and dedicated staff in aged care will welcome the decision by the Department of Health and Ageing to revoke Bresant's approved provider status,' the minister for ageing said in a statement.

The Australian government has been concerned that doctors who effectively own and operate a nursing home can sign the death and cremation certificates of residents, despite an obvious conflict of interest. It is seeking the cooperation of states to plug the loophole on cremation and death certificates.

Gardasil to be available in Australia by the end of 2006

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:34:37 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) The world's first cervical cancer vaccine has been approved in the United States and could be on the shelves in Australia by the end of the year.

It will be a lifesaver for many women as cervical cancer kills about 270,000 women worldwide each year. Technology developed by Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer and his team from The University of Queensland helped create the preventative vaccine.

America's Food and Drug Administration has licensed the vaccine, Gardasil, for use in girls and women ages nine to 26. The vaccine protects against four of the dozens of strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes genital warts as well as cervical cancer.

US drugmaker Merck & Co. expects to start selling a three-shot series of Gardasil by the end of the month for about $485. Merck is seeking similar approval around the world including Australia, and approval in Australia is expected by next month.

"It is extremely exciting after 15 years to see the product finally reach the point where it will come to market," Professor Frazer said. "More gratifying still is the fact that women across the world will benefit significantly from this vaccine."

HPV causes abnormal cells or tissue growth on the feet, hands, vocal cords, mouth and genitals. About 60 types of HPV have been identified so far with each strand infecting certain parts of the body.

Plump Australian kids urged to get out more

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 15:37:37 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Worried over its numbers of chubby children, Australia is launching an expensive television campaign to encourage kids to "get active for an hour a day".

One in three Australian children are overweight and the government is to spend six million Australian dollars (US $4.5 million) in its campaign, Health Minister Tony Abbott said Friday.

But to receive that important message about the value of exercise, the overweight children will have to be sitting on their sofa at home.

"We would like to think that the young people of Australia would spend less time in front of the television set, less time on the computer, less time on the Game Boy and more time running around exploring the bush, going to the beach, playing cricket, football, soccer, whatever it might be," Abbott said.

"Take Panic Out of Bird Flu Pandemic"

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 14:35:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today urged delegates to APEC meeting of influenza pandemic and disaster management specialists from the Asia-Pacific region to propose a responsible planning and response strategy based on education, information and preparedness, not fear and panic.

Dr Haikerwal said the potential for a pandemic is no surprise to the medical profession, but responsible planning is needed.

People need to be able to get on with their lives without the prospect of some sort of ornithological Armageddon creating fear in the community, Dr Haikerwal said.

We need realistic scientific and environmental assessments of the risk of a flu pandemic, and then communicate those findings to the population in a calm and measured way. From the evidence and the incidence of bird flu that is out there at the moment, it is probably a bit early and irresponsible to be talking of widespread doom, destruction and death.

Lets remember there is no evidence of birds infected with bird flu in Australia. There have been fewer than 100 cases of bird-to-human transmission of the virus, and no cases of human-to-human transmission worldwide. People need to understand that the present avian flu virus cannot cause a pandemic because it is barely infectious to humans. You have to work very hard to catch it.

This virus has to mutate to a virus that is much more infectious to humans before it can cause a flu pandemic. It would be better to be spreading positive messages about preparedness and protection against whatever strain of influenza be it mutated bird flu or not should it hit our shores at pandemic levels.

But the big job of this APEC meeting is to define the risk and put it all into a proper timeframe in a calm and reassuring manner without all the sky is falling rhetoric. We must mount a rational, measured response.

Sure, we need awareness. We need response planning especially getting GPs into the frontline. We need responsible discussion about anti-viral medication and possibly immunisation.

There must be careful interaction between the response planners and the people on the ground who will deliver care to the community. And we need to address the capacity of our over-stretched public hospitals to deal with such an emergency. Early warning systems to detect and identify the disease and monitor its progress are also essential.

The Australian position on a possible bird flu pandemic at this time should be about risk management, not panic mismanagement, Dr Haikerwal said.

Involve GPs in Frontline Response To Possible Flu Pandemic

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 21:11:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today called on the Government to do more to involve GPs in the planning for a national response to a possible flu pandemic.

Dr Haikerwal said reports yesterday that the Australian Sentinel Practice Research Network (ASPREN) is underfunded and struggling show that the flu pandemic response is failing before it has even started.

ASPREN is a network of unpaid volunteer GPs mainly in NSW and SA who act as an early warning system for evidence of influenza, including bird flu, and other diseases, but the number of volunteer GPs has dropped to 51 from 110 in 1994.

Things are going too slow with the pandemic response strategy and it is irresponsible not to include the GP population in response planning from day one, Dr Haikerwal said.

As the Governments neglect of ASPREN shows, Australia is totally unprepared in the key area of bio-surveillance, if the concerns raised by the AMA are not addressed.

If we are to repel the flu pandemic threat, Australia needs a national bio surveillance system.

The first step is to revitalise ASPREN by extending the network of GPs across all States and Territories and provide the specialised training and support to allow early detection of health threats.

This will require the involvement of the AMA.

There must also be sophisticated communication networks to facilitate rapid alerts, laboratory support, and centralised data collection systems, Dr Haikerwal said.

Dr Haikerwal said the Government has had plenty of time to establish a system that could activate a flu pandemic response strategy. In 2002 and 2003, the AMA alerted the Government that the national bio surveillance capacity was insufficient to deal with a possible SARS outbreak.

The Government must heed the lessons learnt from the threats presented by the SARS outbreak. They must act now and fast, Dr Haikerwal said.

AMA Urges Paroxetine Users To Consult Their Doctors

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 23:51:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) The AMA(australia) is today alerting its members of a decision by pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), to strengthen its warning against the use of Paroxetine for the treatment of depression in women contemplating pregnancy or in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The AMA(australia) advises patients not to worry and to seek immediate advice from their doctor.

A national response to inform patients has been prepared by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The decision comes after a Danish study and an unpublished US study both indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular defects in children born to women taking Paroxetine.

Paroxetine is classified as a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI).

The TGA advises that in Australia Paroxetine is registered under the trade names Aropax, Oxetine, Paxtine, Chem mart, GenRx and Terry White Chemists Paroxetine, Paroxetine-RL, Paroxetine-BC, Paroxetine Hexal, Espar, Loxamine, Paroxat CR, and Ausrox.

The identified problem is ventricular septal defects, which can occur also in non-SSRI users. It is a common, benign malformation that mostly resolves itself and may not even be diagnosed.

Authorities in the US and Australia stress that the problem is confined to Paroxetine and is not generalised to all SSRIs.

The GSK decision affects women on Paroxetine who are contemplating pregnancy, or who are in their first trimester of pregnancy.

It is important that women do not suddenly stop taking their Paroxetine. They must contact their doctor GP, psychiatrist or obstetrician/gynaecologist as soon as possible to seek advice about stopping their medication safely.

World No Tobacco Day Puts Health Professionals in the Spotlight

Tue, 31 May 2005 21:12:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that doctors are in an excellent position to take a prominent role in the tobacco control debate.

Today is World No Tobacco Day and this years theme focuses on the role of health professionals in tobacco control.

Dr Haikerwal said comprehensive tobacco control programs should involve a mix of initiatives including taxation and pricing measures and legislation for smoke-free environments.

Dr Haikerwal said programs should also focus on prevention through education, communication, and campaigns that raise awareness of the serious effects of tobacco on health.

Doctors have a critical role to play by educating patients and helping them to quit smoking by giving them information about harm caused by tobacco use and advice about how to give up the killer habit, Dr Haikerwal said.

Counselling by health professionals on the dangers of smoking and the importance of quitting is one of the most cost-effective methods of stopping people smoking or taking it up, Dr Haikerwal said.

Doctors can help patients by:

* Including tobacco control as part of their work routine
* Asking their patients about their attitude toward tobacco
* Promoting a tobacco-free life, and setting an example through their own behaviour
* Advocating with their colleagues for smoke-free places.

With a long history of advocacy on tobacco control, the AMA has had many wins over the last few decades with changes to taxation, the introduction of health warnings on cigarette packets and the acknowledgement by tobacco companies that their products are addictive and harmful, Dr Haikerwal said.

The AMA has is committed to working with other key stakeholders for a total smoking ban in all Australian workplaces. People have a right to a clean, safe working environment. This is the best way to give all Australian workers healthier workplaces, Dr Haikerwal said.

Health System Review Must Be Based on the Medical Model, Not the Economic Model

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 17:11:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the overarching review of the Australian health system suggested in yesterday's Productivity Commission Inquiry Report must put the medical model ahead of the economic model if Australian patients are to continue to have equitable access to affordable quality health services.

Dr Glasson said the priorities must be patient care, hospitals, doctors and nurses - not debits, credits and cost-shifting and blame-shifting between the Commonwealth and the States.

"As we have seen this week, the focus of Government health policy has been cost-cutting at the expense of what is best for Australian patients, especially the poorest and the sickest.

"You have to be very wary when the big health policy pronouncements are coming from the Treasurer, the Treasury and the Productivity Commission you know it's going to be more about bean counts than blood counts.

"It is important that decisions and actions that affect human health are driven by a desire to improve healthcare delivery, not bureaucratic attempts to control costs.

"We have got to remember that Australia has a commendable healthcare system that is the envy of many countries around the world.

"There are areas that need to be improved and there are ways to achieve this, but cost-cutting for the sake of it is not an answer especially not in health.

"The Government must recognise that healthcare is not just a cost; it is an investment that produces a healthier population.

"As our population ages and faces more complex and multiple health concerns, it is important that we utilise our health dollars more wisely to take the pressure off the hospital and aged care sectors.

"To achieve this, any review must be about the medical infrastructure and the medical workforce first and foremost.

"And the emphasis must be on public hospitals, community care, sub-acute care and aged care," Dr Glasson said.

Health Resources Must Go To Patients

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 20:31:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that reports of Government changes to the health system seemed to have the priorities all wrong.

The Australian newspaper reports today that the Government's Podger review of health is recommending a three-tier model involving funding, purchasing and provision of services, effectively bypassing the States.

Dr Glasson said the AMA backs a shake up of the health system but reported details of the Podger Report suggest the emergence of more red tape and less money for patient care.

"These changes are not new. They've been considered and thrown out in other countries like the UK," Dr Glasson said.

"We want to see 90 cents in the dollar going to patient care and ten cents going to administration not the other way around.

"Administration costs money. Governments must put the funding into care, not administration.

"We don't want powerful interests dictating the level of care or interfering with the doctor patient relationship.

"Reform proposals must improve access and affordability to quality health and hospital services for patients.

"Changes must give patients more choice about the services they use and how often they can use those services.

"The AMA supports changes that will encourage a move to national standards in our hospitals and improved integration between hospital, community and residential care.

"But we have to address the overcrowding in our emergency departments and work harder at getting doctors into areas of need.

"We must move scarce resources from top heavy administration back to the bedside where patients are missing out by simplifying current funding models," Dr Glasson said.

AMA Calls for Transparency of Mental Health Services in Australia's Detention Centres

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 20:31:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, called for greater transparency of the mental health services provided in Australia's detention centres following ongoing claims this week of detainees continuing to suffer serious mental health disorders while in detention.

Two detainees are currently relaying their experiences to the Federal Court of the poor mental health care they are alleged to be receiving in the Baxter Detention Centre. The ABC's Four Corners program last night presented further witness claims of Cornelia Rau's poor state of mental health and treatment while detained at Baxter, as well as in a Brisbane jail.

We keep hearing claims of the poor mental health suffered by detainees within Australia's detention environment," Dr Glasson said.

"Many of these detainees arrive in Australia having already experienced great mental and emotional stress. Evidence continues to show that the detention environment lends itself to further deterioration of the mental health of so many of the detainees.

"There is a lack of transparency surrounding the mental health services provided in detention centres.

"Information relayed to the public through the media often details conflicting accounts of the mental health care received by detainees. The detainees and their advocates claim one thing and detention management and Government say another.

"Doctors have an ethical duty to act independently and make objective clinical decisions based on the best interests of their patients, not their employer.

"Greater transparency will ensure that doctors are further supported to abide by their duty of care to their patients.

"This is not about politics about who's 'right or wrong' or who's 'legal or illegal'. It's about affording detainees the respect and human dignity that we all deserve," Dr Glasson said.

General Practice Nurses Make Perfect Sense

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 20:31:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) The AMA is pushing the Government to pave the way for more general practice nurses to ease the impact of doctor shortages around the country, but strongly warns against the introduction of independent nurse practitioners.

At its weekend meeting, the AMA Council of General Practice (AMACGP) reaffirmed its position that quality care for patients and access to that care is best achieved in a setting that is coordinated by GPs.

AMACGP Chair, Dr Rod Pearce said a move to independent nurse practitioners would dumb down the Australian health system.

"The best way to ease the pressure on the general practice workforce is to build primary care settings in which nurses are an integral part of the general practice team," Dr Pearce said.

"The right way to go is to have nurses complement and assist the work of the GP, not have nurses become a substitute for GPs.

"General practice nurses help doctors see more patients and spend more time with patients who have chronic or complex illnesses but they do so as part of the general practice team under the supervision of a GP.

"Accrediting nurses to go out and independently diagnose, prescribe and refer patients is the wrong way to go.

"Independent nurse practitioners cannot and should not replace the expertise and care provided by GPs.

"It would be consigning patients in areas of workforce need to inferior health care. The State Governments endorsing independent nurse practitioners are looking for an easy, and vastly inferior, solution which is also an irresponsible and dangerous path to follow."

AMA Proposes Better Health Care for Refugees

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 20:31:38 PST

( from http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Senior AMA GPs are calling on the Government to give refugees and new immigrants access to a comprehensive health assessment by a general practitioner.

At its meeting in Canberra over the weekend, the AMA Council of General Practice (AMACGP) discussed the need for a separate Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item number to provide quality health care for people who are beginning or seeking to begin a new life in Australia.

AMACGP Chair, Dr Rod Pearce, said a new Medicare item would assist refugees who have experienced trauma and danger gain access to a proper comprehensive health assessment as soon as possible.

"Most refugees entering Australia have had a basic health check in their country of origin, but this screening is not comprehensive and may have been conducted months or years before they actually arrived here," Dr Pearce said.

"Refugees usually have had limited health care in the past, are unlikely to have their medical records with them when they arrive, and they may not speak English.

"A thorough health assessment is as important to Australia as it is for the people seeking to enter Australia.

"While the patient's physical and mental health is being assessed by the GP, they are being screened for infectious diseases that could spread to the Australian community," Dr Pearce said.