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)

4 February

Greater access - Additional 10 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines
The Government has secured an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine on the advice of the Scientific Industry Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines led by Professor Brendan Murphy. Through the Government's Advance Purchase Agreement with Pfizer, this additional 10 million vaccines means Australia will now receive 20 million Pfizer doses in 2021. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government is committed to providing safe and effective vaccines free to everyone in Australia. Minister for Health Greg Hunt said making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia is a key priority for the Government.
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Vaccine campaign to support culturally and linguistically diverse audiences
The Government's $31 million COVID-19 vaccination public information campaign is now rolling out across the country, with an additional $1.3 million provided for peak multicultural organisations to help reach culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia is a key priority for the Government. That is why we are extending free access to COVID-19 vaccines to all visa-holders in Australia. This will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and those on bridging visas, said Minister Hunt.
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An effective COVID-19 vaccine program hinges on protecting front-line workers
To ensure the COVID-19 vaccination program is delivered safely and efficiently, the Government should include front-line council workers in the cohort receiving the first shots, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) said. Councils employ a significant number of aged care and disability care staff and ALGA is pleased this cohort has already been identified by the Government as being eligible to be first in line to get the vaccines - along with health care workers, first responders, aged care residents, and other seniors.
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NT: Positive COVID-19 case update
A 59 year old female who arrived on the repatriation flight from New Delhi on 19 January 2021 has tested positive for COVID-19, said the NT Department of Health. The patient is asymptomatic and is under the care of the AUSMAT team at the NT Centre for National Resilience. Since repatriation flights to the Northern Territory began on 23 October 2020:
- 3397 international arrivals have undertaken quarantine at the Howard Springs Centre for National Resilience with another flight landing.
- A total of 62 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported from international repatriation.
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QLD: Statement regarding Victoria cases
Following the announcement of a case of COVID-19 in a staff member in a Victorian quarantine hotel, Queensland is monitoring the situation closely and awaiting more information from Victorian health authorities. Anyone who has been in Greater Melbourne since 29 January and arrived into Queensland should come forward and get tested, isolate until they receive a result and check the Queensland Department of Health and Human Services website regarding the venues of concern.
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QLD: Positive wastewater detection in Yeppoon
Fragments of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in the Yeppoon sewage catchment, said the Queensland Department of Health and Human Services. Yeppoon sewer catchment receives sewage from the suburbs of Taroomball, Inverness, Hidden Valley, Rosslyn, Mulambin, Cooee Bay, Barlows Hill, Lammermoor, Meikleville Hill, Pacific Heights, Taranganba and Yeppoon. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said continued detections across the state is becoming more concerning. 'We continue to urge anyone with any symptoms, no matter how mild to come forward and get tested,' Dr Young said.
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SA: Dedicated COVID-19 Medi-hotel ready to open
On February 8, SA Health will gain access to the brand-new Tom's Court, which will accommodate the state's dedicated COVID-19 facility. After set-up and orientation, the facility will be ready to receive patients who test positive from the following week. SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said as part of the plan to protect South Australians from the spread of COVID-19, the opening of Tom's Court marks a significant enhancement of the State's quarantine process.
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3 February

COVID-19 vaccine rollout for regional, rural and remote Australians
The Australian Government is working with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, General Practices, state and territory governments, Primary Health Networks, General Practitioner-led Respiratory Clinics and community pharmacies, to ensure that Australian's living in regional, rural and remote locations have access to a vaccination if they choose to, said Minister Hunt, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton, and Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt.
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Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) updated statement on minimising the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools
Since COVID-19 first emerged in early 2020, Australians have embraced methods to prevent the spread of disease and keep the community safe. AHPPC encourages schools to remain vigilant and continue to prevent opportunities for transmission in school settings. With COVIDSafe plans and principles in place and health systems ready to quickly identify and respond to cases, schools remain safe places. Students and staff at risk should feel reassured to work and learn onsite and enjoy the benefits of doing so.
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Greens call for Government to diversify vaccines contracts and strategise for herd immunity
The Greens said that the Government must continue to expand and diversify Australia's vaccine portfolio immediately in light of the varying rates of effectiveness of vaccines against new strains. 'We cannot rely on AstraZeneca as our only contingency plan - we need to have a diverse portfolio to rapidly pivot to deal with new strains, including securing deals with Moderna and more Pfizer doses,' Greens spokesperson on Health Senator Rachel Siewert said.
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2 February

Pacific islands forum
Prime Minister Morrison said that: 'I will join my fellow Pacific leaders at the virtual Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat to discuss the region's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia's security and prosperity is intertwined with that of the region. Australia has committed $200 million to help deliver the roll-out of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to protect our Pacific neighbours. I look forward to discussing with the 17 other Pacific leaders how we can work together to continue to manage the health impacts of the pandemic, deliver vaccines to Pacific communities, and drive post-COVID-19 economic recovery in the region.'
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Investigation reveals no specific risk of COVID-19 vaccinations in elderly patients
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) received reports of about 30 deaths in over 40,000 elderly individuals in Norway vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. The deaths were recorded among very frail patients, including some who were anticipated to only have weeks or months to live. The TGA was advised promptly of the Norwegian deaths and has worked closely with the European Medicines Agency and Pfizer on further investigations. The TGA has concluded that there is no specific risk of vaccination with the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in elderly patients.
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Three in four Australians would get COVID-19 vaccination - Ipsos survey
Three in four Australians (67%) are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available, according to an Ipsos survey. Ipsos's most recent polling on willingness to get the vaccine shows a remarkable increase in the percentage of respondents across 15 countries who strongly agree that 'if a vaccine were available to me, I would get it.' In Australia, there has been a moderate increase of 6%, which is in line with other countries where the vaccine is not yet available. Among those who agree they would get the vaccine for COVID-19, a majority would opt to receive it within a month, with an average of 44% globally indicating they would get it 'immediately'. In Australia, 40% say immediately.
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QLD: Bio-tech company wins US contract to manufacture rapid home COVID-19 tests
Local, Brisbane-based biotech firm Ellume has been awarded a $300 million contract with the United States Government to ramp up production of its COVID-19 home testing kits. Queensland Acting Premier Steven Miles, who recently visited Ellume's Richlands facility, congratulated the company on its achievement. 'Ellume is another successful Queensland manufacturer rolling up its sleeves to fight the global pandemic and employing hundreds of Queenslanders to do so,' Mr Miles said.
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1 February

2020 organ donation outcomes released
National organ donation and transplant data for 2020, released by Minister Coulton, shows while Australia's donation rate has doubled over the past decade, the national program took a hit in 2020 due to COVID-19. 'Australians from all walks of life faced great challenges and adversity in 2020 and those waiting for life-changing organ transplants were no different,' Minister Coulton said.
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ACT: Standing exemption
The ACT Department of Health announced that an affected person that enters or entered the Australian Capital Territory from a place in Western Australia declared to be a COVID-19 affected area prior to 2pm on Tuesday 2 February 2021 must:
a. notify ACT Health as soon as possible of their presence; and
b. undertake a period of quarantine; or
c. quarantine at designated premises until they return by air to Perth, Western Australia.
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ACT: Confirmed cases update
There have been no new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours, leaving the ACT's total at 118, said the ACT Department of Health. There are no active cases in the ACT. A new Public Health Direction came into effect, declaring the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia (WA) as COVID-19 affected areas.
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NT: Western suburbs of NSW revoked as hotspots
The Chief Health Officer will revoke a number of Local Government Areas across Sydney's Western Suburbs as hotspots from 10am on 1 February 2021, said the NT Department of Health. The New South Wales Local Government Areas that have been revoked as declared hotspots include:
- City of Blacktown
- City of Canada Bay
- City of Canterbury-Bankstown
- City of Fairfield
- City of Parramatta
-Cumberland Council
-Inner West Council
-Municipality of Burwood
-Municipality of Strathfield.
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QLD: Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for International Air Crew Direction (No. 6)
The purpose of this Direction is to protect the health of the community and international air crew by mitigating the risk of the spread of COVID-19 through quarantine and COVID-19, said the Queensland Department of Health. The Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for International Air Crew Direction (No. 5) effective from 25 January 2021 is revoked from time of publication of this Direction. This Direction applies from time of publication until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless revoked or replaced.
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QLD: Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No. 4)
This Direction applies to a person who arrives in Queensland and who has been in a place outside Australia in the 14 days immediately before their arrival. A person who is an international arrival, whether Queensland is the person's final destination or not, is required to quarantine in a nominated premises for 14 days in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, unless stated otherwise, said the Queensland Department of Health.
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TAS: Regions of WA declared high risk following COVID-19 case
Following the confirmation of a COVID-19 case in Western Australia and after assessment by Tasmanian Public Health Services, the Perth Metropolitan Region, Peel Region and South West Region have been declared high-risk areas by the Acting Director of Public Health. This means that anyone intending to travel to Tasmania who has been in any of these high-risk areas in the 14 days prior to arrival will not be permitted to enter Tasmania unless approved by the Deputy State Controller, and will be required to quarantine, said Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.
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31 January

Community Pharmacy to join COVID-19 vaccine workforce
Community pharmacies around Australia are being invited to join the nation-wide effort to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to millions of Australians over the coming months, as work continues to protect more people from the deadly pandemic, said Minister Hunt. An expression of interest (EOI) process will commence on 1 February 2021 for community pharmacies around Australia to participate in the, 'Community Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination Program,' to immunise priority populations from Phase 2a (expected from May 2021) onwards of the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination rollout strategy.
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Update on COVID-19 and travel arrangements from New Zealand
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the Commonwealth continue to closely monitor the situation in New Zealand, said Minister Hunt. The Commonwealth and AHPPC are receiving daily briefings on the matter. Based on updated information from New Zealand, Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd has recommended the Commonwealth not extend the pause in safe travel zone flights from New Zealand beyond 2pm, 31 January 2021. The Commonwealth has accepted this advice, meaning green zone flights will commence.
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QLD: Queensland declares Perth a hotspot
Perth and some surrounding areas will be declared a hotspot. Queensland Acting Premier Miles said the decision followed the announcement by Western Australia of a case of COVID-19 acquired by a person working in a quarantine hotel in Perth. Anyone who has been in Metropolitan Perth, Peel or the South West regions of WA who arrives in Queensland will be required to go into 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine. 'From 6pm, Queensland is declaring Perth a hotspot. Anyone who has been in Perth, the Peel or South West regions will be required to go into 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine,' Mr Miles said.
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29 January

Emergency COVID-19 exemptions end for ventilators and personal protective equipment
Two emergency exemptions that were made to facilitate the supply of ventilators and personal protective equipment in Australia during the COVID-19 emergency will cease on 31 January 2021. After this date, the medical devices previously supplied under the exemptions can no longer continue to be supplied, and will need to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before they can be supplied in Australia. The first exemption, the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices-Ventilators) (COVID-19 Emergency) Exemption 2020, commenced on 8 April 2020, said the Department of Health and the TGA.
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QLD: Six Pfizer hubs announced for Queensland
From Cairns to the Gold Coast - Queensland has major hospitals across the state ready to deliver the Pfizer vaccine to those of the highest priority. Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath said Cairns Hospital, Townsville Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Gold Coast University Hospital will act as Queensland's six 'hubs' for the Pfizer vaccine. 'Using these facilities as a base for this rollout means we can manage the logistics of the Pfizer vaccine, which is actually quite complex,' she said.
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VIC: More green zones for NSW and final red zone turns orange
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said: 'We're extremely happy to see the last red zone in New South Wales be downgraded. We're reminding people to get tested if they're returning from an orange zone, so we can continue to enjoy an open and COVIDSafe summer.' Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said: 'This is another fantastic step towards a COVIDSafe 2021 - we'll continue to monitor the remaining orange zone and will downgrade it as soon as it's safe to do so.'
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Aged Care

4 February

Scott Morrison's aged care tragedy
'A report released in London shows 75 per cent of all COVID deaths in Australia have been among aged care residents,' said Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Shadow Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Clare O'Neil. 'On this measure, Australia has the worst performance in the world. The Morrison Government is responsible for funding and regulating aged care in Australia. Tragically, 685 older Australians died in aged care homes from COVID-19 because the Government didn't have a plan. Scott Morrison has never accepted the responsibility for the tragedy that unfolded in Australia's aged care system.'
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3 February

Government urged to increase investment in palliative care
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has called on the Commonwealth Government to invest a further $365 million to meet the growing palliative care needs of people in the community, hospitals and residential aged care. The three key funding initiatives are contained in PCA's Pre-Budget Submission and form a comprehensive suite of funding measures designed to address a system that is failing to meet the demand for palliative care in Australia. PCA Chair, Professor Meera Agar, said the evidence is clear that investing in palliative care delivers not just better health outcomes, but significant economic value as well.
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1 February

Dementia care in Australia 'does not meet human rights'
Australia 'does not currently meet the human rights of people with dementia to timely and accessible health services of appropriate quality or to participation in health care decisions', according to members of the National Institute for Dementia Research Special Interest Group in Rehabilitation and Dementia. Writing in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), the authors wrote that Australian services for people with dementia are 'fragmented, challenging to navigate and hard to access'.
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VIC: New Kew aged care facility ready to be called 'home'
The Government is continuing to deliver more high-quality public sector aged care services for older Victorians, with the completion of a new state-of-the-art $55.57 million aged care facility in Kew. Victorian Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan toured the new facility, which will provide residents with access to first class services that meet the modern expectations and standards of residential aged care, particularly for those living with complex needs. Named Berengarra - the Aboriginal word for 'the land around Kew' - the dementia-friendly facility includes 90 private rooms with ensuites split over three levels.
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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

5 February

Harnessing new technology to save lives
The Government is committed to preventing future children in Australia suffering from severe mitochondrial disease, a devastating genetic disorder and is calling on the public to share their views through the release of a consultation paper outlining our proposed approach. By harnessing new technologies such as mitochondrial donation, they have the potential to change the lives of parents and their children and reduce the burden of mitochondrial disease for future generations. Severe mitochondrial disease can have a devastating effect on families, including the premature death of children, painful debilitating and disabling suffering, long-term ill health and poor quality of life, said Minister for Health Greg Hunt.
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1 February

SA: New hospital school for children in North
Children who are patients at the Lyell McEwin Hospital can now go to school there, with the State's newest school campus opening within the hospital in time for the 2021 school year. SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said children with acute and chronic health and mental health needs at the Lyell McEwin Hospital will be able to attend lessons run by the Hospital School SA program.
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Clinical Governance

4 February

Building a stronger Australian Immunisation Register
Australia's vaccination system has been strengthened with the passage of new legislation through the Australian Parliament, making it a requirement for all vaccination providers to report life saving vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), said Minister for Health Greg Hunt. The Australian Immunisation Register is a whole of life, national immunisation register, which records vaccines given to all people in Australia. The AIR includes vaccines given under the National Immunisation Program, through school-based programs and privately, such as for seasonal influenza and vaccines required for travel purposes. Importantly, it will also include COVID-19 vaccinations.
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Construction and Health Infrastructure

4 February

NSW: Palliative care unit opens at Mona Vale
Northern beaches patients nearing the final stages of life will be supported and cared for closer to home with a new, purpose-built palliative care unit at Mona Vale Hospital. NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard, NSW Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes and NSW Member for Manly James Griffin toured the unit, which is funded under the NSW Government's $619 million upgrade of Northern Beaches health facilities.
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Dental

None this edition.

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Disabilities

3 February

Community Inclusion Grant applications now open
State Trustees Australia Foundation is seeking applications until Friday, 26 February for the Community Inclusion Grant. Funding of up to $20,000 is available for projects that support social inclusion and participation by people with disability in Victoria. The total funds available are $220,000, said National Disability Services (NDS).
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2 February

QLD: Stronger disability worker checks bring improvements for QLD
The Government has welcomed new nationally consistent workers screening to provide stronger safeguards for around 90,000 Queenslanders with disability receiving National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Queensland Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said the new worker screening checks formed part of national reforms to improve the safety and quality of services delivered through the NDIS.
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1 February

National standard for NDIS worker screening starts
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening Check will start to replace the different screening arrangements operating in each state and territory, setting a single national standard for all NDIS workers. These new arrangements will help ensure the people who work with NDIS participants-or who wish to do so-do not present an unacceptable risk to people with disability. People who work for registered NDIS providers must have an acceptable check or an NDIS Worker Screening clearance if they are employed in high risk roles, including roles that involve regular close contact with people with disability, said Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Stuart Robert.
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WA: New NDIS worker screening takes effect
All new workers for registered NDIS providers in risk assessed roles will be required to apply for the NDIS Check. Transitional arrangements will be in place from February 1, 2021 to ensure most existing workers are not required to apply immediately. The NDIS worker screening check exceeds the WA Labor Government's 'Clear Card' commitment to introduce pre-employment screening to workers providing direct care and supports to adults with disability, said WA Minister for Disability Services Stephen Dawson.
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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

None this edition.

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Education and Training

2 February

Australian College of Nursing seeks more scholarships and support for nurses in budget submission
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) asked the Government to provide more support for nurses entering the workforce and targeted scholarships for future and advancing nurses, in its pre-budget submission. ACN's submission outlines policies to support the continuation of Australians receiving the highest quality of health care. A key recommendation calls on the Government to support a transition to practice program (TTPP) to better equip nurses entering the workforce. Acting Chief Executive Officer of ACN, Neil Haynes FCA FACN (Hon), said the program would mean more job opportunities for graduate nurses and would ensure they remain in the profession.
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Funding

29 January

Boosting support for pharmacies in Dubbo
Pharmacies in Dubbo will for the first time receive $3,000 per year from Federal Government's Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance (RPMA) program. Minister for Regional Health and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said changes to the Coalition's RPMA program will help maintain access to medicines and pharmacy services in Dubbo. 'Community pharmacies, like Orana Mall Pharmacy, play a vital role delivering medicines and essential health services for the third of Australians who live in regional, rural and remote areas,' Minister Coulton said. 'They continue to do a tremendous job supporting the health and wellbeing of regional patients and this is certainly evident during natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.'
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Health Professionals

4 February

An effective COVID-19 vaccine program hinges on protecting front-line workers
To ensure the COVID-19 vaccination program is delivered safely and efficiently, the Government should include front-line council workers in the cohort receiving the first shots, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) said. Councils employ a significant number of aged care and disability care staff and ALGA is pleased this cohort has already been identified by the Government as being eligible to be first in line to get the vaccines - along with health care workers, first responders, aged care residents, and other seniors.
Download

2 February

Doctors in training still overworked, bullied
The second national Medical Training Survey (MTS) shows doctors in training are continuing to be affected by excessive hours, unpaid overtime, and bullying and harassment in the workplace. While most trainees rated their training experience highly, one in five reported experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination, and almost one in two reported an excessive workload. 'It was pleasing that the overwhelming majority of trainees rated their training experience highly in the 2020 survey, despite interruptions due to COVID-19,' Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said.
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1 February

Statement about Nurses' Key Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
'The critical role nurses play will continue as we enter our next important phase - the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Nurses have worked tirelessly across the patient care spectrum - in respiratory clinics, general practices, hospitals, testing centres, aged care, and people's own homes - supporting, comforting, caring, and treating. We saw nurses from hospitals join their colleagues working in residential aged care facilities to continue to provide care to those most vulnerable,' said Department of Health Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Professor Alison McMillan.
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QLD: 776 junior doctors kick off careers in Queensland public hospitals
Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath met with some of Queensland's newest junior doctors who are part of a 776-strong Statewide intake. Minister D'Ath met the new recruits at The Prince Charles Hospital on Brisbane's northside, where she was joined by Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan and Member for Aspley Bart Mellish.
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Hospitals

4 February

VIC: Hospitals hold firm coming back to COVIDNormal
Victoria's most ill and seriously injured patients continued to receive immediate and high-quality care in hospitals and health services across the state, including through peak demand during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Victorian Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Martin Foley released Victoria's December quarter health service and ambulance performance data. More than 43,000 elective surgery patients received their operations and came off the waiting list in the three-month reporting period.
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1 February

SA: New Hospital School for children in North
Children who are patients at the Lyell McEwin Hospital can now go to school there, with the State's newest school campus opening within the hospital in time for the 2021 school year. SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said children with acute and chronic health and mental health needs at the Lyell McEwin Hospital will be able to attend lessons run by the Hospital School SA program. 'We know that any hospital visit is a stressful time for families, let alone having the added stress on parents who might have to try and 'home school' their children while they're at hospital,' Minister Wade said.
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Insurance

None this edition.

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Medicare

None this edition.

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Men's Health

None this edition.

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Mental Health

4 February

Lost crops costing farmers' mental health
The scarcity of seasonal workers continues to impact growers as crop losses climb to over $45 million, said the National Farmers Federation (NFF). The labour shortage is a result of Federal and state government decisions to restrict the movement of people through the Australian border in order to manage the human health impacts of COVID-19. Sixty-five separate crop losses from five states and territories have now reported on the National Crop Lost Crop Register. Growcom's Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Barnard, said the current labour shortage is impacting businesses and livelihoods industry wide.
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ACT: Service provider announced for new Southside Step Up Step Down
Stride Mental Health Ltd (Stride) will provide psychosocial support services at the new Southside Step Up Step Down facility, located in Garran near the Canberra Hospital campus. ACT Minister for Mental Health Emma Davidson said Stride was awarded the contract following closure of an open tender in July 2020. 'Almost one third of Canberrans will need support with their mental health at some stage in their lives, and the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a huge increase in demand. That's why I'm excited to welcome Stride as the service provider for Step Up Step Down,' Minister Davidson said.
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VIC: Final report into broken mental health system delayed
The long-awaited release of the final report of the Royal Commission into Mental Health has been delayed at the eleventh hour as the Government scrambles to clean up its latest failure to properly manage hotel quarantine, said Victorian Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy. The final report was due to be tabled in State Parliament, but vulnerable Victorians will wait longer because Daniel Andrews is distracted bouncing from crisis to crisis.
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3 February

Socially-connected neighbourhoods linked to better mental health for immigrants
Moving countries comes with big challenges, and language barriers, lack of social support and exposure to discrimination can all take a considerable toll on the mental health of immigrants, said the Sax Institute. Almost one third (29%) of Australia's population were born overseas, with the majority hailing from England, China, India and New Zealand. Dr Hossein Tabatabaei-Jafari, Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU, said studies have shown that living in socially-connected communities where Australians build strong social links is good for mental health.
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ACT: Mental health programs supporting Canberrans in need
To help Canberrans continuing to feel the lingering effects of the pandemic on their mental health and wellbeing, the Government is extending programs and services that were funded by the COVID-19 Mental Health Support Package and providing more funding to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) to continue operating the Adolescent Mobile Outreach Service, said ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, ACT Minister Davidson and ACT Minister for Policy and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman.
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1 February

Boost in support for veteran mental health
Mental health providers, social workers and community nursing providers who provide vital services to the veteran community are set to receive a boost in funding from the Government with an increase in fees. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester said the Government committed $94.3 million in the Budget to increase fees paid to mental health, social work and community nursing providers, and ensure continued high quality care for veterans and their families.
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Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System

None this edition.

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Pharmaceuticals and Regulation

2 February

Precision medicine helping to change the prognosis of a rare subtype of bowel cancer
Immuno-oncology therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) registered for bowel cancer patients with a specific genetic biomarker Australians with a specific type of bowel cancer are no longer subject to a 'one-size fits all' treatment approach, with immuno-oncology therapy KEYTRUDA now available as a treatment option. MSD announced that its cancer treatment KEYTRUDA has been listed for use on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer that have a specific alteration.
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Investigation reveals no specific risk of COVID-19 vaccinations in elderly patients
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) received reports of about 30 deaths in over 40,000 elderly individuals in Norway vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. The deaths were recorded among very frail patients, including some who were anticipated to only have weeks or months to live. The TGA was advised promptly of the Norwegian deaths and has worked closely with the European Medicines Agency and Pfizer on further investigations. The TGA has concluded that there is no specific risk of vaccination with the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in elderly patients.
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PHI 06/21 - Deadline for submissions to the Prostheses List reform consultation paper
The Department of Health would like to provide a reminder to stakeholders that submissions are due shortly for responses to the Consultation Paper: Options for Reforms and Improvements to the Prostheses List. The Department welcomed feedback from interested stakeholders. The Department of Health (the Department) would like to thank stakeholders who have already provided a response. Following the close of the consultation period, responses will be used to inform the future direction of the reform. The Consultation Paper is available through the Department's Consultation Hub. The department will continue to provide updates on Prostheses List reforms and review through PHI Circulars.
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Have your say on proposed changes to maximum residue limits
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released its annual call for comment on proposed changes to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for some agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food. FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said requests to align around 130 chemicals with international limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other international food standards agencies are being considered. 'This includes changes requested by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to align with revised chemical uses in Australia. For the first time we implemented a new process to routinely consider MRLs adopted by Codex in 2019 without the need for separate requests from stakeholders.'
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QLD: Bio-tech company wins US contract to manufacture rapid home COVID-19 tests
Local, Brisbane-based biotech firm Ellume has been awarded a $300 million contract with the United States Government to ramp up production of its COVID-19 home testing kits. Queensland Acting Premier Steven Miles, who recently visited Ellume's Richlands facility, congratulated the company on its achievement. 'Ellume is another successful Queensland manufacturer rolling up its sleeves to fight the global pandemic and employing hundreds of Queenslanders to do so,' Mr Miles said.
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1 February

Notification of decision on application DIR 177 from Novotech (Australia) Pty Limited
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued licence DIR 177 to Novotech (Australia) Pty Limited, authorising a clinical trial of human adenovirus genetically modified (GM) for bladder cancer treatment. The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) and the licence were finalised taking into account input received during consultation with the public, State and Territory governments, Australian Government agencies, the Minister for the Environment, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee and local councils.
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Active Ingredient Prescribing makes medication easier
The introduction of Active Ingredient Prescribing will help clarify consumers' understanding of the medicines they are prescribed, the Consumers Health Forum said. 'This is a welcome advance for patients by focusing, where practical, on the name of the effective ingredient of a medication rather than on the brand name of the product,' the CEO of CHF, Leanne Wells, said.
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