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Friday 4 December 2020

 

This Newsletter covers Federal and State policy and legislative developments in the area of health. Copies of documents referred to can be obtained by clicking on the reference in this Newsletter or through Capital Monitor's collection at www.capitalmonitor.com.au or from the source quoted.


Major Announcements


Coronavirus (COVID-19)

3 December

Strengthening Australia's immunisation program
The Government is continuing to improve Australia's world leading vaccination program through the Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020, which enters parliament. This Bill supports and builds upon the longstanding action of the successive Governments to ensure that Australians have access to safe and effective vaccines and that we maintain world leading immunisation rates. Currently, not all vaccine providers make a record in the Australian Immunisation Register (the AIR) when a vaccine is administered, which means that individuals or health professionals may not have access to vaccination history, said Minister for Health Greg Hunt.
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NSW: New COVID-19 case
NSW Health was notified of a new case of COVID-19 in a person who works at a Sydney hotel complex which provides hotel quarantine for returned travellers. The source of this new infection is under investigation. Urgent genome sequencing is underway to determine whether this is an infection acquired in the community or through work at the hotel quarantine facility. These results are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours. Five household contacts of the case were identified and all have tested negative for COVID-19. They will self-isolate for 14 days.
Download

2 December

COVID-19 vaccines undergoing evaluation
Before any COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in Australia, it will be subject to the well established and rigorous assessment and approval processes of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), part of the Department of Health. The TGA has received applications and is assessing preliminary data for the following COVID-19 vaccines using the provisional pathway and rolling review procedures. All COVID-19 vaccine applications are being treated with the greatest priority as part of the Department of Health's response to the pandemic. The TGA will only be in a position to make a provisional registration decision for a vaccine once all required data relating to safety, quality and efficacy has been provided and assessed.
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NSW: Public health alert
NSW Health is calling on people in Sydney's north-west to get tested if they have even the mildest COVID-19 symptoms, after the state's sewage surveillance program detected traces of the virus at a sewage treatment plant in Riverstone. Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in samples taken on Sunday 29 November from the sewerage system that drains parts of Riverstone, Vineyard, Marsden Park, Shanes Park, Quakers Hill, Oakville, Box Hill, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, Nelson, Schofields and Colebee. Detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the area served by this sewage treatment plant.
Download

30 November

A stronger COVIDSafe App for Australians
The Government announced a world-leading technology development that will further improve the COVIDSafe App and bolster the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. The update comes as the Government launches a new advertising campaign as a reminder that as they head into Christmas and restrictions are easing, people should maintain COVID-safe behaviours. The COVIDSafe App will incorporate a new Bluetooth protocol called Herald that will offer unparalleled app-level Bluetooth performance and contribute to better identification of potential close contacts. The update will improve our contact tracing capability, integrated with state and territory health authorities, said Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert.
Download

Medical journals risk quality with COVID-19 rapid response
Rapid dissemination of information should not come at the expense of quality, ethical standards or oversight, according to the authors of a Perspective published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. 'Medical publishing uses peer review to provide independent and critical assessment to verify data integrity, validity of interpretations, and confidence in conclusions,' wrote the authors, led by Professor Michael Reade, Defence Professor of Military Medicine and Surgery at the University of Queensland. 'This process can take many weeks; however, in a rapidly spreading pandemic, speed is a competing priority. As part of pandemic preparedness, planning to facilitate augmentation of resources available to medical publishers, allowing maintenance of standards of review, should occur,' they concluded.
Download

27 November

$4 million for new COVID-19 research
The Government is supporting six new COVID-19 research projects across four institutions, allowing researchers continue to examine the virus and our response to the pandemic. More than $4 million will be distributed from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through two grant rounds to institutions including Monash University, Deakin University and Macquarie University. These grants aim to develop high priority digital health infrastructure, improving the speed and features of health system responses during acute crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, said Minister Hunt.
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Aged Care

3 December

Expansion of better access to mental health initiative in response to Aged Care Royal Commission's COVID-19 Report
This week the Government announced a range of new measures to improve access to mental health care and allied health support for residents living in aged care. This announcement is in response to the Aged Care Royal Commission's COVID-19 Special Report after several COVID]19 outbreaks in nursing homes. The Royal Commission's Special Report included six recommendations for urgent improvement of the situation in the aged care sector, including urgent creation of MBS items to increase provision of allied health services, including mental health, to people in aged care during the pandemic, said the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
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Further Government investment in aged care welcomed
Dementia Australia has welcomed the announcement this week by the Government of an additional $132.2 million investment in its response to the Aged Care Royal Commission's recommendations on COVID-19. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the acceptance of all six recommendations by the Morrison Government is a step in the right direction for all aged care residents and especially people living with dementia, their families and carers, however further dementia specific strategies will be required to address the devastating long term impact COVID-19 has had in the community.
Download

2 December

Legislation to boost protection for Senior Australians in care
The Australian Government has introduced legislation into the Parliament to support the establishment of the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for residential aged care. Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck, said the Government, through this bill, is providing safe and quality care as a priority and is putting in place stronger measures to help prevent elder abuse to protect the health and wellbeing of senior Australians. 'The Australian Government's quality reform agenda is strengthening protections and improving delivery of safe, quality care,' Minister Colbeck said.
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Staying alert and on guard - an imperative for aged care services during the global pandemic
Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM has clearly communicated to aged care providers her expectation that they will continue to focus on minimising the risks and impact of a potential COVID- 19 outbreak in their aged care service. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has released a new comprehensive guide, Outbreak management planning in aged care, for use by residential aged care providers in supporting their workers, care recipients and family members, and visitors to prevent, prepare for and manage an outbreak of COVID-19.
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VIC: Operational update - Victorian Aged Care Response Centre
The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) said it is coordinating testing of asymptomatic staff in Victorian aged care facilities. VACRC is working closely with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to align testing requirements. The Government's testing program has scheduled residential aged care facilities' workforce to be tested fortnightly in metropolitan Melbourne, and monthly in regional Victoria.
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1 December

Aged care funding papers over chronic problems
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said that: 'the Government's response to the Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations on COVID-19 will not provide the staffing levels, training, or transparency needed to end the crisis in aged care. The Morrison Government first refused to take responsibility for the aged care system during the pandemic and has been slow to act despite clear demands from workers and the Royal Commission. Despite previous announcements, aged care workers report that in many facilities infection control measures urgently recommended by the Royal Commission still aren't in place, and where they are, already overstretched existing staff are being asked to take on these additional responsibilities.'
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30 November

Fixing aged care for a civilised society
If Australia is to meet standards of a civilised society, older people who need support should have universal access to care, the Consumers Health Forum (CHF) said. The latest report from the Grattan Institute on aged care joins a lengthening list of authoritative inquiries, highlighting the urgent need for an overhaul of aged care, given the current system so often fails to provide basic standards of care. 'The Grattan Institute report makes a persuasive case that the system is 'broken' and needs a fundamental reset, including substantially more funding than present,' the spokesman for CHF, Mark Metherell said.
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Tougher laws on paid carers and powers of attorney needed to protect the elderly from abuse
Leading law firm Maurice Blackburn is urging states and territories to consider introducing rules to ban paid carers from being used as powers of attorney, describing it as an important safeguard against elder abuse. Andrew Simpson, national head of wills and estates at Maurice Blackburn, said there was considerable trust invested in an enduring power of attorney, and any breach of that trust could have significant consequences. 'Giving a paid carer power over the affairs of the vulnerable person they are paid to look after is in our view a dangerous blurring of professional and personal lines that increases the risk of financial abuse.
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Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

None this edition.

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Allied Health

None this edition.

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Children's Health

3 December

Strengthening Australia's immunisation program
The Government is continuing to improve Australia's world leading vaccination program through the Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020, which enters parliament. This Bill supports and builds upon the longstanding action of the successive Governments to ensure that Australians have access to safe and effective vaccines and that we maintain world leading immunisation rates. Currently, not all vaccine providers make a record in the Australian Immunisation Register (the AIR) when a vaccine is administered, which means that individuals or health professionals may not have access to vaccination history, said Minister for Health Greg Hunt.
Download

Clinical guidance for two rare immune conditions revealed
An international study co-led by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has provided new guidance for the clinical treatment of two rare inherited immune disorders. Researchers combined global data on the two conditions, caused by variants of the genes CD27 and CD70, and diagnosed mostly in children. Their study revealed that those affected were predisposed to lymphoma, a cancer originating from immune cells, but also that the cancer was successfully treated in 95% of patients when they underwent a stem cell transplant shortly after diagnosis.
Download

30 November

NSW: Design unveiled for Manly youth hospice
A unique youth hospice will provide young people living with incurable illness and their families a welcoming and supportive environment during end-of-life care. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and NSW Member for Manly James Griffin unveiled artist impressions of the design of Australia's first Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, to be built on the old Manly Hospital site. 'The hospice will be surrounded by bushland and overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing a peaceful setting for young people and their families during extremely difficult times,' Mr Barilaro said. 'The centre will provide teenagers and young adults with short-term respite care and specialised palliative care, as well as bereavement support and counselling for their families, seven days a week.'
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Clinical Governance

None this edition.

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Construction and Health Infrastructure

30 November

WA: McGowan Labor Government's new future for Peel Health Campus
WA Premier Mark McGowan
said that the WA Government will end the privatisation of services at Peel Health Campus and will deliver a $152 million major redevelopment of the hospital, putting Peel-Murray patients first. Under the new arrangements, 890 Ramsay Health Care staff will have the opportunity to transition to the public sector, employed by the South Metropolitan Health Service, and retain their prior service, long service leave and paid parental leave entitlements. From 2023, Peel Health Campus will be a State-run public hospital with co-use of facilities for a private hospital, on site, to ensure a range of health care options is available for the Peel-Murray region to choose from.
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Dental

None this edition.

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Disabilities

3 December

New disability strategy to increase Australian Public Service employment opportunities
Marking International Day of People with Disability, the Government has released a new Australian Public Service (APS) employment strategy to make employing people with disability a mainstream part of the APS culture. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said employment opportunities were the key to unlocking improved economic security, independence and wellbeing for all Australians with disability. Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Stuart Robert and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton acknowledged International Day of People with Disability and highlighted the important work the NDIS does in supporting people with disability into employment.
Download

International Day of People with Disability
'Today is the International Day of People with Disability,' said Shadow Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services Linda Burney. 'This is an occasion to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disability. But we must also seize the opportunity to take stock of the unfinished business that remains to improve the lives of people with disability - one in five Australians. The Coalition has failed to deliver on the promise of Labor's National Disability Insurance Scheme across a range of areas: Deaths of NDIS participants by neglect in their homes.'
Download

1 December

WA: Funding boost to smooth WA's NDIS transition
WA Minister for Disability Services Stephen Dawson
announced a further $2 million to strengthen the capacity of Western Australian providers to comply with the requirements of the National Disability Insurance Service Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission). The funding will support implementing providers to audit their restrictive practices and identify where behaviour support plans are required and develop and deliver a training program about working effectively with NDIS behaviour support practitioners and how to convene an authorisation panel. The NDIS Commission is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. It regulates NDIS providers, provides national consistency, promotes safety and quality services, resolves problems and identifies areas for improvement.
Download

30 November

Disability Royal Commission Public Hearing COVID-19 Report
The Australian Government welcomed the COVID-19 report of the Disability Royal Commission. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen significant challenges in the way all Australians live our lives, however, the Government recognises the unique factors that need to be considered when managing the health care needs of people with disability. Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the Government acknowledged people living with disability often have specific health needs, which is particularly pertinent in the context of a global pandemic. 'This is why the Australian Government through February, March and April acted early on disability consultation and led the establishment of the Management and Operational Plan for COVID-19 for People with Disability (April).' Minister Hunt said.
Download

NDIS Worker Screening to commence February 2021 in WA
National Disability Services (NDS)
welcomed the passing of the NDIS (Worker Screening) Bill, which provides for the implementation of nationally consistent NDIS worker screening resulting in NDIS worker screening decisions being portable across jurisdictions and employers within the NDIS. The states and territories will fund and manage the administrative and system support costs of NDIS worker screening units, take enforcement action in relation to an applicant who provides false or misleading information, and facilitate effective information sharing. The intention of the Bill is to introduce a high standard of screening for people who engage in NDIS work.
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Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

None this edition.

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E-Health

2 December

South Australia switches on electronic prescriptions
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that South Australians will now have access to electronic prescriptions through the Government's ongoing investment in digital health. More than one million electronic prescriptions have been issued. This includes over 800,000 original electronic prescriptions and over 400,000 repeat tokens to patients. The Government has committed $2.4 billion to provide all Australians with access to telehealth, with more than 30 million Medicare-eligible telehealth services delivered since March. The Government has also invested $5 million to fast track electronic prescribing, and provided $25 million to support home delivery of medicines.
Download

1 December

First-of-its-kind chatbot developed to support genetic counselling
Scientists at CSIRO, in partnership with Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, have developed an Australian-first digital conversation agent (a 'chatbot') that could support patients in making informed decisions about genomic testing for future health risks. Dubbed 'Edna' (which stands for electronic DNA), the chatbot is the first of its kind globally developed specifically to support genetic counselling for adults being tested to ascertain future risk of preventable or treatable conditions (known as 'additional findings'). These conditions include treatable genetic disorders such as hereditary breast cancer or cardiomyopathy.
Download

30 November

New standards open the door to safe and effective digital mental health care
The introduction of world-leading standards for digital mental health services in Australia is set to be a game-changer for the nation at a time when the delivery of high-quality mental health care has never been more important. The announcement of new National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has been embraced by the mental health sector and consumer and carer advocates. The NSQDMH Standards will support the delivery of high quality and safe care including counselling, treatment and peer-to-peer support services via telephone, videoconferencing, websites, SMS, webchat and mobile apps.
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Education and Training

None this edition.

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Funding

1 December

QLD: Health budget to unite and recover from COVID-19
A $21.8 billion record health budget will help build new and improved hospitals, ambulance stations and health facilities, creating more than 4400 construction and health jobs. Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D'Ath said the 2020-2021 State Budget provided an extra $743.488 million over the previous health budget - includes a record $1.625 billion infrastructure spend. 'Queenslanders elected the Government so we could keep delivering our strong health response and our plan for economic recovery,' Mrs D'Ath said.
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Health Professionals

2 December

ACT: Labor & Greens must tackle rampant hospital burnout
The prevalence of burnout and exhaustion experienced by trainee doctors is causing high fail rates and potentially breaches the governing enterprise agreement, ACT Shadow Health spokeswoman Giulia Jones said. The 2020 report, ACT Health BPT Training Program Review, revealed that 79% of junior doctors are suffering burnout and 68% are experiencing emotional exhaustion. As a result, just 37% of trainees passed their exams, compared to a national average of 70%. 'The ACT Government has a duty of care in preventing burnout and fatigue among its hospital workforce,' Mrs Jones said.
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Hospitals

3 December

VIC: More investment in a bigger, better Ballarat Base Hospital
Victorian
Minister for Health Martin Foley said that the Victorian Government is boosting investment in the redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital, ensuring the region's families and dedicated hospital staff get the world-class facilities they deserve and need to treat thousands more patients a year. The Victorian Budget 2020/21 includes $178.2 million for the Guaranteeing Energy Supply initiative, that ensures hospitals have capacity and reliable backup energy supply if there was a power failure in the electricity grid. As part of this initiative, Ballarat Base Hospital will receive $80 million to build a new central energy plant which will be integrated with the redevelopment - bringing the Victorian Government's total investment to $541.6 million.
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WA: Major new emergency department upgrade for Armadale Hospital adds to extensive investment in hospitals
After a competitive tender process, Marawar Building Services - which boasts more than 50 per cent of staff being Aboriginal - has been awarded a contract to reconfigure and upgrade the emergency department of Armadale Hospital, part of the East Metropolitan Health Service. Last financial year, more than 60,000 people attended the Armadale Hospital emergency department (ED), which services Perth's south-eastern suburbs. The ED reconfiguration has been designed to improve the patient experience through the development of a dedicated paediatric patient treatment area, said WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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Insurance

None this edition.

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Medicare

1 December

Now more than ever, the fight against HIV must continue
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that to mark World AIDS Day 2020 and support the 'now more than ever' theme, the Government will provide almost $6.2 million towards the ongoing battle against HIV, and has expanded access to Dovato on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). More than 28,000 Australians are living with HIV and it is very pleasing that most have a suppressed viral load. That means they're healthy and unlikely to pass on the virus to anyone else. Australia's collective and long term track record and leadership in HIV, working together to provide innovative treatments and supporting people living with HIV is respected globally, however - now more than ever - it's important to maintain the focus.
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Australian HIV response strengthened by Minister Hunt's World AIDS Day announcement
The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations welcomed an announcement from the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt to ensure every person living in Australia with HIV has access to life saving antiretroviral medicine, regardless of Medicare eligibility. 'This is a critical public health measure,' said Darryl O'Donnell, Chief Executive of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. 'This act of leadership will give access to antiretroviral medicine to everyone in Australia who needs it. This is more than a question of treatment, it is also a question of prevention, because a person with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV.'
Download

30 November

Greater access to key treatment option for patients with rare flesh eating ulcer
Minister Hunt
said that there's new hope for Australians living with a severe flesh eating ulcer, with expanded subsidised access to a key medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 December, access to Rimycin 150 and 300 (rifampicin) will be expanded on the PBS for the treatment of Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection). It is expected 425 patients could benefit from the listing each year. Without subsidy they would pay approximately $140 per year for this treatment. Identifying the source of these infections will enable public health authorities to alert the public to avoid whatever is causing the ulcers, and therefore reduce adverse health outcomes.
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Men's Health

None this edition.

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Mental Health

3 December

Partnership expands mental health support to future Paralympians
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Paralympics Australia have announced a significant partnership to support the next generation of Paralympic champions by providing access to world-leading mental health and wellbeing services. Launching on International Day of People with Disability, the partnership will see the AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) become more accessible for emerging Paralympic pathway athletes. The MHRN currently offers independent and confidential mental health and wellbeing support to more than 2500 categorised athletes, as well as alumni athletes, coaches and support staff.
Download

Expansion of better access to mental health initiative in response to Aged Care Royal Commission's COVID-19 Report
This week the Government announced a range of new measures to improve access to mental health care and allied health support for residents living in aged care. This announcement is in response to the Aged Care Royal Commission's COVID-19 Special Report after several COVID]19 outbreaks in nursing homes. The Royal Commission's Special Report included six recommendations for urgent improvement of the situation in the aged care sector, including urgent creation of MBS items to increase provision of allied health services, including mental health, to people in aged care during the pandemic, said the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
Download

30 November

New standards open the door to safe and effective digital mental health care
The introduction of world-leading standards for digital mental health services in Australia is set to be a game-changer for the nation at a time when the delivery of high-quality mental health care has never been more important. The announcement of new National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has been embraced by the mental health sector and consumer and carer advocates. The NSQDMH Standards will support the delivery of high quality and safe care including counselling, treatment and peer-to-peer support services via telephone, videoconferencing, websites, SMS, webchat and mobile apps.
Download

Trainee doctors need mental health support
Access to mental health services is a particular concern for specialist trainees, analysis by the AMA has found. The AMA Specialist Trainee Experience Health Check is based on findings from the 2019 Medical Training Survey (MTS) released in February 2020, the development of which was led by the AMA Council of Doctors in Training. The Health Check compares the specialty training experience across 11 Colleges, ranking them from A+ (excellent) to F- (unsatisfactory) in four areas - Communication and Engagement, Examination and Assessment, Supervision and Teaching, and Workplace Environment and Culture. AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said doctors face a range of pressures and stressors over the course of their training and career.
Download

Prevention must target youth suicide stressors
Fewer than one-third of the 3027 young people who died by suicide during 2006-2015 were receiving mental health care at the time of their deaths, according to research published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. The authors from the Orygen, Australia's centre of excellence in youth mental health, led by Research Fellow Nicole Hill, now at Telethon Kids Institute, analysed data from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) for people aged 10-24 years who died by suicide in Australia.
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Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System

None this edition.

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Pharmaceuticals

3 December

Limited role of medicines in autism
A new article in the December edition of Australian Prescriber looks at some of the treatment strategies that might help children with autism spectrum disorder, and the additional conditions that people living with autism often have. Author Dr Melanie Turner, Child and adolescent psychiatrist and Director of MyChild Psychiatry and Psychology in South Australia said the number of people with autism spectrum disorder is growing. This is partly due to the way the condition is diagnosed. 'Non-medicine treatments like talking therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, peer mentors, and support in education and employment are usually the first port of call for managing the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder,' said Dr Turner.
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1 December

Criminal cartel charges laid against pharmaceutical ingredient company and its former export manager
Alkaloids of Australia Pty Ltd and its former export manager, Christopher Kenneth Joyce, have each been charged with 33 criminal cartel offences, contrary to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, formerly the Trade Practices Act 1974, following a criminal investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The matters will be prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). The ACCC alleges that Alkaloids of Australia and other overseas suppliers of SNBB made and gave effect to arrangements to fix prices, restrict supply, allocate customers and/or geographical markets, and/or to rig bids for the supply of SNBB to international manufacturers of generic antispasmodic medications.
Download

30 November

Greater access to key treatment option for patients with rare flesh eating ulcer
There's new hope for Australians living with a severe flesh eating ulcer, with expanded subsidised access to a key medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 December, access to Rimycin 150 and 300 (rifampicin) will be expanded on the PBS for the treatment of Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection). It is expected 425 patients could benefit from the listing each year. Without subsidy they would pay approximately $140 per year for this treatment, said Minister for Health Greg Hunt.
Download

29 November

Key PBS listing to save Australians with severe back and neck pain more than $20,000
Thousands of Australians with debilitating back and joint pain will have access to a life changing treatment option through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars. From December 1, access to Taltz on the PBS will be expanded for patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. Without the PBS subsidy, up to 8,000 patients would pay more than $22,000 per year for this treatment. Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition, which can cause some small bones in the spine to fuse, said Minister Hunt.
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28 November

PBS support for Australians living with leukaemia
Patients living with one of Australia's most common forms of leukaemia are set to benefit from expanded access to a breakthrough medicine through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 December, access to Venclexta (venetoclax) will be extended in combination with obinutuzumab for the first-line treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who have co-existing conditions and are unsuitable for fludarabine-based chemoimmunotherapy. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a relatively uncommon type of cancer however it is the most common type of leukaemia diagnosed in Australia with around 1,000 people diagnosed each year, said Minister Hunt.
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Research

4 December

VIC: Illuminating investment in medical research and jobs
Melbourne's reputation as the capital of innovation and medical research will take another giant leap forward with an Australian-first Genomics Hub to be established at the University of Melbourne, said Victorian Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney. The Illumina-University of Melbourne Genomics Hub will be the first in the Asia Pacific region and bring together the best genomic expertise and technology in Australia to drive better health research and diagnostics, in areas including infectious diseases such as coronavirus, said Victorian Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas and Victorian Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford.
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3 December

AMA raises alarm on health impacts of climate change - Devastating bushfire season put role of doctors front and centre
With bushfires having already started and the last devastating summer season still fresh in the mind, a major report confirms that Australians are being increasingly exposed to intense heatwaves and bushfires. The findings of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, released in the Medical Journal of Australia, demonstrate the need for urgent action from the Government to limit the health risks of rising temperatures. On average, annual exposure to extreme-level fire danger days has increased by 30 days since 2001, said the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
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Climate inaction continues to harm Australian health and economy
Despite continuing increases in summer maximum temperatures and heatwave intensity, and $2.2 billion of insured economic losses as a result of the 'Black Summer' bushfires, Australia still has no national plan to tackle the health impacts of climate change, according to the authors of the MJA-Lancet Countdown special report, published by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA). Associate Professor Ying Zhang, co-chair of the MJA-Lancet Countdown, and colleagues, wrote that substantial increases in both fire risk and population exposure to bushfires were having an impact on Australia's health and economy.
Download

Clinical guidance for two rare immune conditions revealed
An international study co-led by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has provided new guidance for the clinical treatment of two rare inherited immune disorders. Researchers combined global data on the two conditions, caused by variants of the genes CD27 and CD70, and diagnosed mostly in children. Their study revealed that those affected were predisposed to lymphoma, a cancer originating from immune cells, but also that the cancer was successfully treated in 95% of patients when they underwent a stem cell transplant shortly after diagnosis.
Download

1 December

HIV diagnoses in Australia fall as clinicians embrace pre-exposure prophylaxis
Australian Prescriber
and NPS Medicinewise reported that HIV prevention has been revolutionised by preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral drugs. Since its introduction in Australia, rapidly and at scale, HIV diagnoses have fallen dramatically. PrEP adherence and efficacy are highly correlated Elimination of HIV transmission will require a high uptake of PrEP in gay and bisexual men. Nationally over five years, new HIV diagnoses have declined by 44% in Australian-born men who have sex with men. However, diagnoses have not declined in men who have sex with men who were born overseas.
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Ending social stigma: families living with HIV, hep B and hep C
A team of UNSW Sydney researchers has released a groundbreaking report (attached) that is expected to improve the lives of people with bloodborne viruses. The report provides a first look at how families experience and respond to bloodborne viruses, and is the result of a three-year study funded by an Australian Research Council grant. The researchers interviewed 61 people and their families about their lived experiences with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. A further 20 social policy, health, care and advocacy professionals working within these communities were also consulted as part of the interview study.
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30 November

Doctors need more education to transition to retirement
Controlling the exit from work and accumulating multiple resources early predict adjustment to retirement for doctors, according to the authors of a Perspective published online by the MJA. The final transition in a medical career is one that the profession has largely ignored, write Adjunct Associate Professor Chanaka Wijeratne, a Senior Staff Specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital and the University of Notre Dame Australia, and Associate Professor Joanne Earl from the Department of Psychology at Macquarie University. This risks 'unplanned departures that affect succession planning for practices, continuity of care for patients, and the wellbeing of the practitioner', they said.
Download

Medical journals risk quality with Covid-19 rapid response
Rapid dissemination of information should not come at the expense of quality, ethical standards or oversight, according to the authors of a Perspective published online by the MJA. 'Medical publishing uses peer review to provide independent and critical assessment to verify data integrity, validity of interpretations, and confidence in conclusions,' wrote the authors, led by Professor Michael Reade, Defence Professor of Military Medicine and Surgery at the University of Queensland. 'This process can take many weeks; however, in a rapidly spreading pandemic, speed is a competing priority. As part of pandemic preparedness, planning to facilitate augmentation of resources available to medical publishers, allowing maintenance of standards of review, should occur,' they concluded.
Download

Prevention must target youth suicide stressors
Fewer than one-third of the 3027 young people who died by suicide during 2006-2015 were receiving mental health care at the time of their deaths, according to research published online by the MJA. The authors from the Orygen, Australia's centre of excellence in youth mental health, led by Research Fellow Nicole Hill, now at Telethon Kids Institute, analysed data from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) for people aged 10-24 years who died by suicide in Australia.
Download

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Rural, Regional and Remote Health

None this edition.

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Women's Health

None this edition.

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Transcripts

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Health Greg Hunt
03 DEC: Transcript of Press Conference, Australian Parliament House
Subjects: Therapeutic Goods Administration, COVID-19, JobKeeper, JobSeeker, Businesses, Vaccinations, NSW, QLD, Cases in the UK

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg
03 DEC: Transcript of Interview with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News
Subjects: COVID-19 vaccine, National Accounts, JobKeeper, Trade, Relationship with China, Cashless credit card scheme, AAA rating, Federal Minister for Health

Labor Member for Macnamara Josh Burns
02 DEC: Opinion Piece, first published in Junkee - 'Australia's Mental Health System Isn't Just Failing Patients, It's Failing Workers Too'
Subjects: Mental health system, Workforce shortage, Early intervention, Medicare

Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne
01 DEC: Transcript of Speech to Virtual World AIDS Day breakfast
Subjects: HIV/AIDS, Pacific nations healthcare, COVID-19, Malaria

Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese
01 DEC: Transcript of Doorstop Interview, Parliament House, Canberra
Subjects: Veteran suicide National Commissioner, Calls for a Royal Commission into veteran suicide, Mental health, Veteran mental health

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham
30 NOV: Transcript of Interview with Karl Stefanovic & Allison Langdon, Today, Channel 9
Subjects: Queensland Tourism, Cruise Industry, China, World Trade Organization, COVID-19 vaccines, NZ tourism

Shadow Minister for Health Chris Bowen
28 NOV: Transcript of Jack Ferguson Memorial Lecture
Subjects: Employment, Health, Casual workforce, Manufacturing industry, Federal Opposition, Infrastructure investment, Social reform

Minister for Health Greg Hunt
27 NOV: Transcript of Doorstop Interview, Canberra
Subjects: Telehealth, COVID digital health delivery, European COVID numbers, AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, Quarantine facilities, State borders, Travel with NZ, Returning Australian travellers

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Reports

COVID-19 at a glance for 27 November 2020
Department of Health

Download

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 1) Bill 2020 & Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Bill 2020 - Report
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee

The committee recommends that the bills be passed. The Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 1) Bill 2020 (Bill No. 1) and Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Bill 2020 (Bill No. 2) amend the way in which providers of home care to older Australians receive government subsidies for that care. The bills primarily amend the Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997.
Download

NDIS Planning Final Report
Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The committee made 14 recommendations in its interim report and it makes another 42 recommendations in this final report. These recommendations are intended to bring greater transparency, consistency and accountability to how the NDIS is administered and implemented.
Download

Public hearing report - Public hearing 5 Experiences of people with disability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation of People with Disability

This section of the report on Public hearing 5 (Experiences of people with disability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic) records the findings and recommendations made by the Commissioners. The findings and recommendations are grouped under headings that correspond to the major headings in the body of the report.
Download

Australian Public Assessment Report for Riptretinib
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

This AusPAR describes the application by TudorRose Consulting Pty Ltd (the sponsor);2 to register Qinlock (ripretinib) 50 mg tablet for the following proposed indication: Qinlock is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) who have received prior treatment with 3 or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib.
Download

Good Manufacturing Practice annual report 2019-20
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

The information in this report provides insights into manufacturing quality regulatory activity, which contributes to Outcome 5: Regulation, Safety and Protection in the Health Portfolio Budget Statements 2019-20, and TGA business plan 2019-20 objective regarding the ongoing monitoring of the safety, efficacy performance and quality of medicines, medical devices biologicals and other therapeutic goods.
Download

Australian Public Assessment Report for Ozanimod hydrochloride
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

This AusPAR describes the application by Celgene Pty Ltd (the sponsor) to register Zeposia (ozanimod hydrochloride) 230 ìg; 460 ìg and 920 ìg oral capsules for the following proposed indication: Zeposia is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
Download

Australian Public Assessment Report for Eculizumab
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

This AusPAR describes the application by Alexion Pharmaceuticals Australasia Pty Ltd (the sponsor) to register Soliris (eculizumab) 300 mg, concentrated solution for intravenous transfusion for the following extension of indication: Adult patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive. Soliris is not intended for acute treatment of a NMOSD relapse.
Download

Pre-submission meetings with TGA
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
This guidance is for applicants (sponsors, manufacturers and agents) preparing for presubmission meetings related to applications. A pre-submission meeting can help both the applicant and TGA to:
1. obtain a common understanding of the therapeutic good and:
- what supporting documentation is needed to evaluate the application
- any issues to resolve before submitting applications
2. plan for the submission and to manage both timeframes and resources
Download

Priority applicant guidelines for medical devices (including IVDs)
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
The purpose of these guidelines is to assist applicants seeking a conformity assessment (priority applicant) determination or a medical devices (priority applicant) determination. These guidelines generally refer to such determinations, in either case, as 'priority applicant determinations'.
Download

National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2020
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

This report presents data against 18 of the 20 performance indicators that will be used to monitor the NCSP going forward.
Download

National Oral Health Plan 2015-2024 - Performance monitoring report - Report
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW)

This report presents data against an agreed set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to monitor performance of the strategies in Australia's National Oral Health Plan 2015-2024. Information is presented for 26 KPIs grouped into seven broad topic areas-oral health status, impacts of oral disease, risk behaviours, preventive strategies, access to services, workforce and quality. A companion In brief publication has been produced.
Download

Insights, Outreach And Brokering
Business Council of Australia (BCA), Asia Society Australia, Pricewaterhousecoopers Australia (PWC) and University of Sydney (USYD)

The report discusses:
- Feature the Monash Technology Precinct, one of Victoria's two major world-class healthcare innovation precincts, as an example of a highly flexible and mature model of business-university collaboration;
- Explore what this Precinct produces as exportable services; and
- Highlight the role that a healthcare innovation precinct could play in helping Indonesia meet its health and economic objectives.
Download

NT: Gunbalanya-Kakadu disease cluster investigation - Report
NT Department of Health

In October 2014 the operators of the Ranger uranium mine, Energy Resources of Australia, lodged a Draft Environmental Impact Statement with the Northern Territory (NT) Environment Protection Authority and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment for their proposal to expand the open-cut Ranger mine by commencing underground mining. Concern had previously been expressed that cancer incidence might be higher than expected in the Aboriginal population living in the vicinity of the Ranger mine.
Download

01 DEC 2020: SA, MURRAY BRIDGE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MOUNT GAMBIER & DISTRICTS HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MANNUM DISTRICT HOSPITAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, LOXTON & DISTRICTS HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, KINGSTON ROBE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, FAR NORTH HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, BALAKLAVA RIVERTON HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL INC: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, HILLS AREA HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report (1243KB)

01 DEC 2020: SA, LOWER EYRE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report (1428KB)

01 DEC 2020: SA, MID NORTH HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report (6395KB)

01 DEC 2020: SA, CEDUNA DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, BORDERTOWN & DISTRICT HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, LEIGH CREEK HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, HAWKER DISTRICT MEMORIAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MURRAY BRIDGE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MALLEE HEALTH SERVICE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, EUDUNDA KAPUNDA HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MILLICENT & DISTRICTS HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, MID WEST HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, COORONG HEALTH SERVICE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, BERRI BARMERA HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, GAWLER & DISTRICT HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, BAROSSA & DISTRICTS HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, KANGAROO ISLAND HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, LOWER NORTH HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

01 DEC 2020: SA, EASTERN EYRE HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2019-20 Annual Report

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Hansards

Federal

03 DEC 2020: REPS HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - COVID-19: Health Manufacturing

02 DEC 2020: REPS HANSARD: Regulations and Determinations - Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment (Indexation) Determination 2020

02 DEC 2020: REPS HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Australian Defence Force: Mental Health

02 DEC 2020: SENATE HANSARD: Bills - Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance Administration) Bill 2020 - Report from Committee

01 DEC 2020: SENATE HANSARD: Regulations and Determinations - Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2020

01 DEC 2020: SENATE HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Health Care

01 DEC 2020: REPS HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Aged Care and Disability Services

30 NOV 2020: REPS HANSARD: Petitions - Responses - Abdominoplasty Surgery

30 NOV 2020: REPS HANSARD: Petitions - Responses - Teachers - Mental Health

30 NOV 2020: SENATE HANSARD: Adjournment - Mental Health

30 NOV 2020: REPS HANSARD: Federation Chamber - Statements by Members - Herbert Electorate - Mental Health

30 NOV 2020: REPS HANSARD: Federation Chamber - Statements by Members - Esperance Royal Flying Doctor Service Firewood Cutters

New South Wales

27 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - Central Coast Ambulances

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - Nurses in the Charlestown Electorate

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - Kenya Health Murwillumbah

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - World Pancreatic Cancer Da

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Question Time - Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - World Pancreatic Cancer Day

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Domestic Violence and Acquired Brain Injury

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Private Members' Statements - Central Coast Mental Health Services

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Private Members' Statements - Canterbury Multicultural Mental Health Roundtable

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Private Members' Statements - Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital

19 NOV 2020: NSW ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Community Recognition Statements - Perinatal Mental Health Week

Queensland

01 DEC 2020: QLD ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Julia Creek Hospital

South Australia

01 DEC 2020: SA COUNCIL HANSARD: Answers to Questions - Women's and Children's Hospital

Tasmania

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.1 Admitted Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 90 - COVID-19 Response and Recovery - 90.7 Elective Surgery

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.4 Community Health Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.2 Non-admitted Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.3 Emergency Department Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 90 - COVID-19 Response and Recovery - 90.5 Cancer Council Tasmania

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 1 - System Management - 1.1 System Management

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.7 Public Health Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 2 - Health Services - 2.6 Ambulance Services

25 NOV 2020: TAS COUNCIL HANSARD: Estimates Committee A - Division 5 - Department of Health - Output Group 90 - COVID-19 Response and Recovery - 90.6 Community Healthcare

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Court Cases

None this edition.

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New Regulations

Federal

Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices - Info Must Accompany Application for Inclusion) Amendment (COVID-19 Measures - Class 1 IVD Med Devices) Determination 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01528

The Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices-Information that Must Accompany Application for Inclusion) Amendment (COVID-19 Measures-Class 1 IVD Medical Devices) Determination 2020 ('the Amendment Determination') is made under subsection 41FDB(7) of the Act, read together with subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The Amendment Determination amends the Principal Determination primarily to specify that a declaration of conformity made by a manufacturer under clause 6.6 of Schedule 3 to the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002 must accompany an application for inclusion in relation to a Class 1 in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device.
Explanatory Statement

Health Insurance (Section 3C Diagnostic Imaging - Nuclear Medicine Services) Amendment Determination 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01513

The purpose of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Diagnostic Imaging - Nuclear Medicine Services) Amendment Determination 2020 (the Amendment Determination) is to allow patients access to substitute nuclear medicine items under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) during a disruption in the supply of certain radio pharmaceuticals.
Download

National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards-Worker Screening) Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Rules 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01508

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards - Worker Screening) Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Rules 2020 (the Instrument) are made under section 209 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (the Act) for the purposes of section 73T and 73Q of the Act. The Instrument amends the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards - Worker Screening) Rules 2018 (the Rules).
Explanatory Statement

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participating Jurisdiction) Specification 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01507

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participating Jurisdiction) Specification 2020 (the Specification) is made under section 10A of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (the Act) and specifies Western Australia as a 'participating jurisdiction' for the purposes of the Act, with effect from 1 November 2020.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines - Cost Recovery) Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01504

The purpose of the proposed National Health (Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines ¡V Cost Recovery) Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2020 (the Amendment Regulations) is to ensure the sustainability of the PBS by assisting the Department to recover its costs associated with PBS and National Immunisation Program listing and make it more efficient for applicants to obtain PBS listing.
Explanatory Statement

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Schedule 20 - Maximum residue limits Variation Instrument No APVMA 9, 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01503

The APVMA is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth. Amongst other things, the APVMA is responsible for ensuring agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals used in Australia are not harmful to public health due to residues in food. The Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand concerning a Joint Food Standards System excludes MRLs for residues of agvet chemicals in food from the system setting joint food standards.
Explanatory Statement

Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Tablets, Capsules and Pills) Amendment Order 2020
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01502

The Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Tablets, Capsules and Pills) Amendment Order 2020 is made under subsection 10(3A) of the Act. The purpose of the Amendment Order is to amend the Principal Order to defer the commencement of section 16 from 31 March 2021 to 30 June 2021. A three-month extension to the commencement of the new requirements for elemental impurities and residual solvents is proposed in response to the increased pressures on the pharmaceuticals industry resulting from the impact of the public health emergency caused by the outbreak of the disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy) Special Arrangement Amendment Instrument 2020 (No. 10)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01501

The purpose of this Instrument, made under subsection 100(2) of the Act, is to amend the National Health (Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy) Special Arrangement 2011 (PB 79 of 2011) (the Special Arrangement) to make changes relating to the Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy. The Special Arrangement achieves greater efficiency in payment for the supply of injected or infused chemotherapy medicines ('chemotherapy pharmaceutical benefits') to eligible patients being treated for cancer, to reflect the 2010 Budget measure titled 'Revised arrangements for the efficient funding of chemotherapy drugs'.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Listed drugs on F1 or F2) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 11)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01499

This instrument makes amendments to the Principal Determination. The Act provides that PBS listed drugs may be assigned to formularies identified as F1 and F2. F1 is intended for single branded drugs and F2 for drugs that have multiple brands, or are in a therapeutic group with other drugs with multiple brands. Drugs on F2 are subject to the provisions of the Act relating to price disclosure and guarantee of supply. Section 84AC of the Act provides that a drug is on F1 or F2 if there is a determination in force under section 85AB that the drug is on F1 or F2.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement Amendment Instrument 2020 (No. 10)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01497

This is the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement Amendment Instrument 2020 (No.10) (this Instrument). The purpose of this Instrument, made under subsection 100(2) of the Act, is to amend the National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement 2010 (PB 116 of 2010) (the Special Arrangement), to make changes to the Special Arrangement relating to the Highly Specialised Drugs program. The amendments made by this Instrument reflect amendments to the National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012 (PB 71 of 2012), which commence on the same day.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 10)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01495

The purpose of this legislative instrument, made under subsection 89A(3) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act), is to amend the National Health (Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures) Determination 2020 to make changes to the pharmaceutical benefits eligible to be provided as a Continued Dispensing supply. The National Health (Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures) Determination 2020 (the Principal Instrument) expands the list of pharmaceutical benefits that can be supplied by an approved pharmacist under Part VII of the Act without a prescription, and provides the conditions for such a supply.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme- Exempt items - Section 84AH) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 3)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01494

The purpose of this legislative instrument, made under section 84AH of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act), is to amend the legislative instrument titled National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-Exempt items - Section 84 AH) Determination 2017 (PB 81 of 2017) to make changes to the pharmaceutical items that are determined to be exempt items.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Pharmaceutical benefits - early supply) Amendment Instrument 2020 (No. 10)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01492

The purpose of this legislative instrument, made under subsection 84AAA(2) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) is to amend the National Health (Pharmaceutical benefits-early supply) Instrument 2015 (PB 120 of 2015) (the Principal Instrument). PB 120 of 2015 specifies the pharmaceutical items that are in pharmaceutical benefits for which Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net entitlements will not apply for early supplies, and to specify the period following previous supply.
Explanatory Statement

National Health (Originator Brand) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 7)
Legislative Instrument - F2020L01491

This legislative instrument amends the National Health (Originator Brand) Determination 2015 (PB 100 of 2015) (the Principal Instrument) to determine the originator brand of a pharmaceutical item for three drugs new to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) F2 formulary on 1 December 2020. The Principal Instrument determines originator brands of pharmaceutical items that have a drug on the F2 formulary. On meeting certain criteria, drugs move from the F1 formulary (s85AB of the Act), or the single brand Combination Drug List (CDL), to F2.
Explanatory Statement

Victoria

01 DEC 2020: VIC, FOLEY: Public Health and Wellbeing (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2020 - S.R. No. 132/2020

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Proclamations

None this edition.

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Gazette Notices

New South Wales

27 NOV 2020: NSW GOVERNMENT GAZETTE No. 337: Government Notices - Health & Education

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Consolidated Legislation

Private Health Insurance (Health Insurance Business) Rules 2018
Legislative Instrument Compilation - F2020C01053

Rules/Other as amended, taking into account amendments up to Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 7) 2020.
Download

Dental Benefits Act 2008
Act Compilation - C2020C00367

Act No. 41 of 2008 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Services Australia Governance Amendment Act 2020. An Act to provide a framework for the provision of dental benefits, and for related purposes.
Download

Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973
Act Compilation - C2020C00363

Act No. 41 of 1974 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Services Australia Governance Amendment Act 2020. An Act relating to the provision of certain services, and for other purposes.
Download

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New Bills

Federal

Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Bill 2020 - Senate committee report tabled 2/12
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Financial Transparency) Bill 2020 - Senate 2R debate 30/11
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 1) Bill 2020 - (Reps passed) Senate committee report tabled 27/11
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Bill 2020 - Senate committee report tabled 27/11
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Serious Incident Response Scheme and Other Measures) Bill 2020 - Reps intro 2/12
Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020 - Reps intro 3/12
Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance Administration) Bill 2020 - Senate committee report tabled 2/12
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020 - (Reps passed) Senate committee report tabled 30/11
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 - (Reps passed) Senate committee report tabled 30/11
National Emergency Declaration Bill 2020 - Reps intro 3/12
National Emergency Declaration (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 - Reps intro 3/12

Queensland

COVID-19 Emergency Response and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 - LA 2R 1/12, LA 2R debate, passed 2/12, awaiting assent
Disability Services and Other Legislation (Worker Screening) Amendment Bill 2020 - LA 2R 2/12

South Australia

Health Care (Governance) Amendment Bill 2020 - LC 2R debate, in committee 1/12
Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2020 - LC 2R debate, passed 2/12
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 - LA intro, 1R, 2R 2/12
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 (No. 2) - LC intro, 1R, 2R 2/12

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New Acts

None this edition.

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