Welcome to this week's edition of Health Alert. The Health Alert is transmitted on Monday of each week (unless there is a public holiday on Monday).
Health Alert is a summary of the critical judgments, legislation, press releases and news items which have come to our attention each week. Many of the summaries will contain a hyperlink.
If an item is of special interest, we may insert commentary into the body of Health Alert. However in general, Health Alert is a quick and effective means of ensuring that you are aware of significant recent changes with little or no commentary from ourselves.
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Nigel Preston and the DLA Phillips Fox Health Team
JUDGMENTS
Australia. Federal Court
Mukherjee v Medicare Participation Review Committee [2010] FCA 233 (17 March 2010)ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Judicial Review - Decision of Administrative Appeals Tribunal - Medical Participation Review Committee - Section 124F Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) - Disqualification for 3 months - Whether Tribunal required to make a finding on ?actual awareness? after finding applicant ?not wholly aware? - Whether Tribunal considered other available penalties - Whether Tribunal substituted itself as expert witness - Inadequacy of reasons - Wednesbury unreasonableness - Effect of guilty plea on awareness - Appeal dismissed.
New South Wales. Medical Board
11/03/10: Tung, Margaret
New South Wales. Administrative Decisions Tribunal
O'Sullivan v NSW Medical Board [2010] NSWADT 75
Summary dismissal of complaint - discrimination on the ground of disability - victimisation
Victoria. Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
Dr Colm Moore 2010 (Full Reasons)
Dr John Duncan Mackellar 2010 (Full Reasons)
New Zealand. Health & Disability Commissioner
08HDC08813Obstetrician and Gynaecologist - Informed consent to surgical procedure.08 Mar 2010
08HDC03994Hospital (Public) - Specialist support for medical staff in small public hospital.21 Aug 2009
09HDC01342General Practitioner - Inappropriate relationship with patient.24 Feb 2010
United Kingdom
Ternent v Ashford & St Peter's Hospital NHS Trust [2010] EWHC 593 (QB) (24 March 2010)
LEGISLATION
Commonwealth
National Health Security Amendment (Background Checking) Act 2010 - C2010A00015 - Health - An Act to amend the National Health Security Act 2007, and for related purposes
National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1) - F2010L00568 - Health - These Regulations amend the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 to remove redundant provisions and amend Schedule 5 which lists brands of pharmaceutical items scheduled for phased statutory price reductions.
Queensland
Health Legislation (Health Practitioner Regulation National Law) Amendment Bill 2010 - Legislative Assembly 2nd Reading - 25/3/2010
REPORTS
Australia. Department of Health & Ageing
Media releases
- 25 March 2010 - $4m for Tri-Nation Research to Help Close the Gap in Indigenous Health - The Australian Government has announced three Australian research teams will receive a share of nearly $4 million to improve outcomes in Indigenous health.
- 24 March 2010 - $3.3 million to reduce drownings at coastal black spots - The Australian Government is devoting $3.3 million to help reduce drownings at coastal danger spots along the nation's coastline.
- 21 March 2010 - The Facts on Swine Flu - Australians must be prepared for possible outbreaks of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza - or swine flu - as the southern hemisphere flu season begins.
Private Health Insurance Circulars
- PHI 14/10 - Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Amendment 2010 (no. 1) and Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Amendment 2010 (NO. 1)
- PHI 13/10 - Removal of Lifetime Health Cover Loadings after ten years
Aged care Advice to the industry - 18 March 2010 - Schedule of Fees and Charges from 20 March 2010
Australia. Therapeutic Goods Administration
European Union guidelines(8 adopted, 1 not adopted, 2 replaced/ superseded)
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicines (ACSOM) (new)
Statement on Rotarix(r) (Rotavirus vaccine) (new)
IVD regulation information seminars - April 2010 (new)
Therapeutic Goods (Multi-Site Manufacturing Licenses) Guidelines of 2010 (registered with FRLI 19 March 2010)
Australia. Private Health Insurance Administration Council
10/05 24 Mar 10 Clarification of advice to insurers on PHIAC 1 requirements when Lifetime Health Cover status changes CURRENT EDITION 10/05
Australia. National Health & Medical Research Council
Tracker - 19 March - *NHMRC Career Development Awards - deadline extension; *Project Grant applications - Grant Review Panels in 2010; *CEO Newsletter - *NHMRC Bibliometric Report - *Third edition of Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence ; *Public consultation on draft Clinical practice guidelines for depression and related disorders in the perinatal period; *Podcast: NHMRC Newscast March 2010 View full Issue
$4m for Tri-Nation Research to Help Close the Gap in Indigenous Health - The Rudd Government has announced three Australian research teams will receive a share of nearly $4 million to improve outcomes in Indigenous health. View Media Release
Measuring up 2009: bibliometric analysis of the impact of NHMRC funded research - The NHMRC has released the latest bibliometric analysis of the citation performance of NHMRC funded health research Download the Report Summary Download the Full Report
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
Risk factors and participation in work - This report builds on the previous AIHW report Chronic disease and participation in work by showing the association between risk factors and participation in work. Published 25 March 2010.
Monitoring the impact of air pollution on asthma in Australia: a methods paper - Published 22 March 2010.
Cardiovascular medicines and primary health care: a regional analysis - Cardiovascular medicines and primary health care: a regional analysis shows how the supply of cardiovascular medicines and primary health-care services differs across regions in Australia. . Published 17 March 2010.
Australia. National E-Health Transition Authority
Australia launches leading edge e-health supply chain location directory - 17 March 2010.The first electronic location directory, connecting healthcare purchasers and suppliers around Australia, was officially unveiled in Melbourne and Sydney this week. The central registry, known as GS1Locatenet GLN Directory for Healthcare, will improve the speed and accuracy of supply transactions helping to reduce hospital operating costs and save lives. Read more: Australia launches leading edge e-health supply chain location directory
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Monday 22 March 2010 -New Calls for Expressions of Interest in National and State Office Roles. - Executive Officer, Psychology and Osteopathy Boards of Australia , Executive Officer, Policy, National Board Services , Director of Corporate Services (WA and SA) , Manager Medical Registration (Victoria).
Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health
Commission update - Issue 10, March 2010 (PDF 257 KB)
National Forum on Safety and Quality in Primary and Community Health - May 2010 (PDF 260 KB)
5th International Conference in Health Care - Quality Around the World - May 2010
8th Australasian Conference on Safety and Quality in Health Care - Sept 2010
National Forum on Safety and Quality in Health Care - October 2010
Australian Capital Territory. Department of Health
Death cap mushroom warning (22 March 2010) - ACT Health is reminding people to steer clear of the world's most deadly mushroom the Death Cap.
Rabies and Australian Bat Lyssavirus (22 March 2010) - ACT Health advises people not to handle bats at all, even if they are trapped or injured.
New South Wales. Department of Health
NSW Health News Update - Latest in health video news. - Floods - Health Reform - Scholarships - Dubbo Diabetes - Great Australian Bite
Policy Directives
- School-Link Initiative Memorandum of Understanding PD2010_020 23/03/2010
- Maternity - Breast Milk: Safe Management> PD2010_019 23/03
Information Bulletins
- Salary Increase for Teachers Employed in NSW Public Health System Early Childhood Centres IB2010_020 25/03/2010
- Pension Based - Scale of Fees IB2010_019 24/03/2010
Queensland. Department of Health
March Health Matters (PDF, 1MB)
South Australia. Department of Health
24 March 2010 - 2010 Meningococcal Season Reminder (pdf 45kb)
Victoria. Department of Health
Media releases
- Fluoride benefits dental health in Kerang (22/03/2010) Published: - 22/03/2010
- Fluoride benefits dental health in Swan Hill area (22/03/2010) Published : - 22/03/2010
- Fluoride benefits dental health in the Mildura area - 22.03.10 Published: - 22/03/2010
- Virtual Telemedicine Delivers Even Better Healthcare - Thursday, 25 March 2010
Hospital circular - Publication Number 08 / 2010 - 22 March 2010 - Public Hospital Charges - Changes Nursing Home Type Patients (NHTP)
Western Australia. Department of Health
Media releases
- 24 March 2010 - People advised on potential health risks
- 23 March 2010 - People urged to avoid contact with Perth waterways
- 24 Mar 2010Jacobs Tenders called for new Broome mental health and paediatric facilities
WA Health Performance Report October to December 2009 (PDF 704KB)
New Zealand. Medsafe
Medsafe's Evaluation Policy for Priority and Abbreviated Assessments
New Zealand Regulatory Guidelines for Medicines - Update to Volume 1, Part D, Section 4.10 as a result of the last Medicines Classification Committee meeting held on 3 November 2009
United Kingdom. Department of Health
The Quarter: quarter 3, 2009/10
Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalised patients
Inclusion Health: improving primary care for socially excluded people
Valuing people now: a new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities
Medical patient weighing scales
United States of America. Department of Health & Human Services
What Change Looks Like - The passage of health insurance reform legislation represents a historic victory for the American people. America's families and businesses will not only get relief from skyrocketing health care costs but will now have more control over their health care. No longer will the insurance companies get the final say when it comes to rates and rights. - Watch the Video & Read the President's Remarks
Canada. Health Canada
Government of Canada Releases Draft Assessments for 17 Substances included in the Chemicals Management Plan [2010-03-22]
Health Canada Completes Safety Assessment of Caffeine use in Non-Cola Beverages [2010-03-19]
Health Canada Reminds Parents and Caregivers to Take Steps to Prevent Unintentional Poisoning [2010-03-15]
Australian Medical Association
Closing the Indigenous health gap - time to get it right 25 March 2010 - 2:05pm - AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that Close the Gap Day is a timely reminder for the Government to get active in developing a comprehensive national plan to achieve Indigenous health equality within a generation.
2010 AMA Award for Excellence in Health Care 24 March 2010 - 9:00am - Nominations for the 2010 AMA Award for Excellence in Health Care are now being accepted.
2010 AMA State Awards 24 March 2010 - 9:00pm - The Federal AMA is conducting the AMA Awards program, which recognises the work of State and Territory AMAs in promoting the Association and the profession. Submissions for the 2010 AMA State Awards are now being accepted.
GP Network News Issue 10, Number 9 - 19 March 2010 19 March 2010 - 3:30pm - GP Network News Issue 10, Number 9 - 19 March 2010, AMA welcomes investment in general practice training places, H1N1 influenza update, Draft clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of depression. Read more
British Medical Association
Anti-market campaign wins public backing - Almost 3,000 doctors and 2,000 members of the public have responded to the BMA's campaign
We must fight inequality, says next BMA president - Avoidable health inequalities 'are wrong, morally wrong', argues leading doctor
'We were lucky with H1N1', says former swine flu tsar - The government has learnt lessons from swine flu response, doctors told
GPs demand halt to SCR roll-out - BMA says over-hasty progress of the database programme means patients are ignorant of its true implications
BMA backs hospital cuts protest - Doctors oppose plans for reconfiguration of busy emergency department
American Medical Association
Canadian Medical Association
03/25/2010 - Number of Canadian IMGs seeking residency training soars
03/23/2010 - CMA pushing for EMR training in all 17 medical schools
03/19/2010 - Women MDs challenge Ottawa over contraception issue
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