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)

10 June

Greater Melbourne hotspot for Commonwealth support lifted
The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, declared the Greater Melbourne area a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support from 11:59 pm on 27 May 2021. This was for an initial period of seven days, with a review on 4 June 2021, at which point the hotspot declaration was extended until 11:59 pm on 10 June 2021, said the Department of Health.
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Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) statement - Updated recommendations to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 infection
The Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) and National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce have jointly agreed on updated recommendations to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 infection. This includes advice on when to use face (surgical) masks, P2/N95 respirators and eye protection. The Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) and National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce have jointly agreed on updated recommendations to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 infection. This includes advice on when to use face (surgical) masks, P2/N95 respirators and eye protection.
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ACT: Stay-at-home order lifted in the ACT
ACT Health will lift the stay-at-home requirement at 11.59pm 10 June for anyone in the ACT who has travelled from Victoria. This means that people currently in the ACT and people travelling to the ACT from Victoria will no longer be subject to the stay-at-home requirements. People seeking to travel from Victoria into the ACT must first ensure that they follow the Victorian Government's public health directions. If permitted to travel, people will need to complete an online declaration form on the COVID-19 website 24 hours prior to arrival.
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NSW: Stay-at-home order to be lifted for people who have been in Victoria
NSW Health will lift a stay-at-home order for people in NSW who have been in Victoria since 4pm on Thursday 27 May. The order will no longer apply from 12.01am Friday 11 June, in line with the Victorian Government's decision to lift its stay-at-home restrictions. However, a number of COVID-19 restrictions remain in place in Victoria, including that metropolitan Melbourne residents must not travel more than 25km from their home unless for work, education, care or getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
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NT: COVID-19 wastewater testing in 10 top end locations
NT Health has commenced a COVID-19 wastewater testing system across 10 Top End locations, as a further surveillance system to complement existing pathology-based COVID-19 testing for individuals. Wastewater testing will initially be conducted for three months, across the Darwin and Palmerston region, and including the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility, after which the system will be reviewed. Wastewater sampling acts as an early warning detection system in the Northern Territory's defence against COVID-19.
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QLD: Caloundra Vaccination Hub to open
Queensland Health is growing its network of COVID vaccination hubs with Caloundra Indoor
Stadium set to open its doors. Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath said the new Pfizer vaccination hub, among almost 50 across the state, will open on Saturday 12 June until Wednesday 23 June between 9am and 5pm and operate seven days a week. 'Given the recent cases, we've added a temporary new vaccination centre on the Sunshine Coast,' Ms D'Ath said.
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TAS: Travel restrictions with regional Victoria relaxed
Tasmanian Public Health authorities have continued to monitor the situation in Victoria daily, including the changes to lockdown restrictions occurring in that state. Based on the current situation in Victoria, regional Victoria will be downgraded to low-risk under border controls. Metropolitan Melbourne, will remain high-risk and will continue to be monitored daily, however at this stage it is unlikely that it will be downgraded to low risk until after the long weekend, said Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.
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9 June

WA: Health directions in relation to Queensland positive case
WA Health issued updated advice for travellers who have recently returned from Queensland after a public health alert was issued. Queensland Health issued the alert after a woman has tested positive for COVID19 who travelled from Melbourne via New South Wales. WA's Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson said anyone who has recently arrived into WA from Queensland and has been to one of the listed Queensland exposure sites since 01 June 2021 during the relevant times is required to get tested and self quarantine for 14 days and present for 48-hour and 11-day testing. Recently returned travellers from Queensland should continue to monitor the Queensland Health site.
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NSW: Public health alert
NSW Health has been advised by Queensland Health that a confirmed case of COVID-19 travelled through regional NSW while potentially infectious from 1 June to 5 June. The case drove from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, stopping at places in Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo and Moree and signed in to several venues using QR codes. Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must immediately get tested and isolate until you receive further information from NSW Health. NSW Health is continuing to investigate the movements of this case in regional New South Wales, and this list of venues and times will be updated.
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8 June

Funding for rapid COVID-19 test among $3.7 million manufacturing grants
The Government is helping innovative Aussie manufacturers commercialise their great ideas with more than $3.7 million in grants, including funding for the development of a rapid COVID-19 test. Alcolizer Pty Ltd, based in Balcatta Perth, is among six companies to share in funding under the Government's $30 million Commercialisation Fund, which brings together industry and researchers on job-creating projects. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said projects like this show the power of what can happen when you combine industry and researchers to solve key challenges facing Australia and the world.
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Misleading radio messages about COVID-19 vaccine safety
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seriously concerned about misleading information, authorised by Mr Clive Palmer that has recently been broadcast on radio stations in the Grant Broadcasters Radio network and which provides an incorrect picture of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The TGA investigates reported adverse events and has found only one case where an individual with vaccine related thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or any other related condition has passed away. Sadly, about 160,000 people die in Australia every year - almost 3000 each week - and therefore it is quite expected that there have been some deaths reported within days or a few weeks of vaccination.
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First pharmacy-delivered COVID-19 vaccination
The first COVID-19 vaccination delivered through a community pharmacy in Australia has been administered at Boonah Pharmacy in Queensland. Last month, the Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced that a number of rural and remote pharmacies in Queensland would be the first to get the green light to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to members of the community. These pharmacies are among the 4000 across Australia to have been given approval to deliver the vaccines after meeting all training and other requirements. National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Trent Twomey said the start of the vaccination roll-out in pharmacies was an important step in the effort to maximise immunisation rates across all of Australia.
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NSW: Second mass vaccination centre to open in NSW
A former Bunnings warehouse in Lake Macquarie will be transformed into the NSW Government's second mass vaccination centre, further boosting the vaccine rollout across the state. The mass vaccination centre will be located at 393 Pacific Hwy, Belmont with around 150 people to work on converting the site over six weeks. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the centre would have the capacity to administer up to 20,000 vaccines per week and is expected to open in mid-July. NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the centre would employ up to 100 nurses, 25 pharmacists or pharmacy technicians plus around 200 other support staff.
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QLD: World-class medical research institute gets multimillion dollar expansion
A world leading Queensland medical research facility will receive a multimillion-dollar investment to ramp up the development and manufacturing of vaccines. The project is the first to be announced under the Government's new flagship $1.84 billion Queensland Jobs Fund. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government was investing $20 million towards the development of a new Translational Manufacturing Institute at the existing Translational Research Institute (TRI). Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland could be a vaccine manufacturing location for the whole country.
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QLD: Community pharmacies continue rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch's Acting President, Chris Owen, joined Queensland Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert in Sarina, Queensland, as the Assistant Minister received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination at the Discount Drug Store, Sarina. Mr Owen said he was thrilled to be in Sarina with the Assistant Minister to promote the regional rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines through community pharmacies. 'I'm excited to be here in Sarina with Assistant Minister Julieanne Gilbert as we celebrate the fact that Queensland is once again leading the way nationally,' said Mr Owen.
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SA: COVID vaccine rollout to get an $86 million boost
The SA Government will invest more than $86 million in the upcoming State Budget to fast track the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to more South Australians. The announcement comes as South Australia opens up vaccinations to all 40-49 year olds, while also extending access to the Pfizer vaccine to all disability workers and the arrival of the vaccine in Kangaroo Island for anyone aged 16 years or older. SA Premier Steven Marshall said giving every South Australian access to the vaccine was a key priority for the SA Government.
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SA: COVID-19 Update
South Australia Health There have been two cases of COVID-19, both reported from a medi-hotel. There have been a total of 769 cases notified in South Australia. The cases include a man and woman in their 50s, who both acquired their infections overseas and have been in medi-hotels since their arrival. The man in his 50s is considered to have an old infection however he has been added to case numbers as he has not been diagnosed or counted overseas. A man in his 60s remains in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a stable condition.
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VIC: Labor's hotel quarantine fails Victorians again
'Confirmation that the current Delta variant of COVID-19 was leaked from Victoria's hotel quarantine is yet another failure of a broken system under the Victorian Government,' said Victorian Shadow Minister for Police and Crime Prevention David Southwick. 'Genomic testing matched the coronavirus strain identified in the West Melbourne cluster to an arrival from Sri Lanka who entered Melbourne's hotel quarantine on May 8, with Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino admitting the Victorian Government has 'no definitive understanding' of how or when this variant leaked from hotel quarantine.'
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WA: WA steps forward with COVID-19 vaccination rollout to all over 30
Western Australians aged between 30 and 49 will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccination in Western Australia with bookings opening. Western Australia is fast tracking the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program, offering the vaccine to all eligible Western Australians who are 30 years of age and over. Those aged between 30 and 49 will receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at State-run clinics, and people aged 50 and over will continue to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, said WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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7 June

COVID-19 vaccination eligibility extended to all NDIS participants and carers over 16
All National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Tuesday, 8 June. Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Linda Reynolds thanked National Cabinet for expanding the eligibility of NDIS participants. 'National Cabinet has refined the national vaccination rollout plan to maximise opportunities for Australians to be vaccinated over the second half of the year, in line with increased supply,' Minister Reynolds said. 'Opening up the vaccine eligibility to all NDIS participants over 16 is a very important step toward this goal.'
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QLD pharmacies join rollout, 1 million regional vaccines delivered
More rural and remote Queenslanders will be rolling up their sleeves as local pharmacies join the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The Government is partnering with the Queensland community pharmacy network to bolster the regional rollout of vaccines, with 49 pharmacies starting to vaccinate, said Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton and Minister Hunt. Speaking at the first pharmacy-delivered vaccination site in Boonah, Member for Wright Scott Buchholz, said he was proud the Scenic Rim region and more specifically Boonah was chosen to be part of the local pharmacy rollout of vaccines which would help protect more people from the devastating pandemic.
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A day to celebrate
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) rejoices over the commencement of immunisation against COVID-19 through community pharmacies. 49 regional and remote Queensland pharmacies have commenced immunising Australians against the COVID-19 virus. PSA has been lobbying to secure pharmacist involvement in the strategy over recent months and is delighted to see that this has come to fruition. PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, said this is a turning point in Australia's COVID- 19 vaccine roll-out. 'This is the day that many rural communities have been waiting for, with Queensland community pharmacies able to help vaccinate and protect them against COVID-19.'
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New regulatory arrangements support businesses and health professionals to communicate and incentivise COVID-19 vaccination
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has implemented arrangements to facilitate the communication of information about approved COVID-19 vaccines. These arrangements permit health professionals, businesses and media outlets to develop their own materials about TGA-approved COVID-19 vaccines. They also permit the offer of a range of rewards to people who have been fully vaccinated under the Government's COVID-19 vaccination program. The new arrangements, which will be in place until the end of 2022, will give health professionals and Australian businesses more flexibility to contribute to the national conversation about vaccination.
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ACTU calls on Government to save lives and support a waiver on vaccine patents
Australia is just one of 12 countries stopping a waiver on patents for COVID-19 products which would allow developing countries to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The ACTU calls on the Federal Government to change their position at the meeting of the WTO Trade Related-Aspects Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council. At the current rate developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa will not receive required vaccinations until 2023 or later, and a temporary waiver would enable them to ramp up production of vaccines, PPE and lifesaving tech such as respirators.
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Education workers need priority access to COVID-19 vaccination
The Australian Education Union (AEU) is calling on the Government to make the education workforce a priority for COVID-19 vaccination. 'Teachers and education support personnel in early childhood settings, schools and TAFEs are frontline workers, providing an essential service in our community; the education of our children and young people,' Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe said. 'Education workers around the country are ready to roll up their sleeves and get the jab because they know it's the best way to protect themselves and their communities.'
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Westpac introduces special paid leave to support employees to get COVID-19 vaccinated
Westpac Group is introducing new measures to support employees through COVID-19, including special paid leave for employees to attend COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Employees will be able to apply for a half day special paid leave for each of their COVID-19 vaccination appointments, totalling one full day of leave. Westpac Group CEO, Peter King, said: 'Getting people vaccinated is key to protecting our family and friends should further outbreaks occur, as well as opening up the economy and returning to a more normal way of life.'
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QLD: Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine patch shows promise
The delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine has thrown up a lot of logistical challenges globally, including cold chain requirements and a global shortage of glass vials. At the end of the day, you have to vaccinate almost 8 billion people on the planet. Twice. To date, 2 billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered globally. But the rate of vaccination differs markedly between countries. Half the US population will soon have received at least one vaccine shot. Whereas, at the current rate of vaccination, India will take 2.5 years to vaccinate 75 per cent of its population, said the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport.
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4 June

Australia delivers COVID-19 supplies to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
The Government stands with its partners in the Indo-Pacific as they face significant health and humanitarian challenges from COVID-19, delivering medical supplies to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. An Australian Defence Force C-17A Globemaster aircraft departed Perth, carrying oxygen equipment for India and Personal Protective Equipment for Nepal and Sri Lanka. Nineteen of India's 36 states and union territories have already received Australian medical supplies from previous deliveries, including 3000 ventilators and 250 oxygen concentrators, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja.
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More vaccination options for people with disability
The Government is establishing dedicated vaccination hubs in key locations to provide additional safe and accessible locations for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants in Phase 1 to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. NDIS disability workers and primary carers of people with disability will also be able to access the hubs. Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Linda Reynolds said the number of NDIS participants getting vaccinated is growing. As at 1 June 2021 nearly 38,000 NDIS participants had received at least one dose of the vaccine, an increase of approximately 6,600 since 25 May 2021.
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PM blames workers to cover up aged care bungle
The political football of mandatory vaccinations is a classic case of misdirection by the Federal Government, United Workers Union said. 'The Federal Government's approach this week has been a disgraceful political cook-up to shift blame onto workers,' United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith said. 'The vaccine rollout in Australia has been a joke. Aged care workers and residents have been put in harm's way by the Federal Government's inability to effectively provide access to the lifesaving vaccine. Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt have tried to use the issue of mandatory vaccination as a smokescreen for their own failure in providing vaccines to aged care workers.'
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Government clueless on vaccinations for homeless Australians
'In Senate Estimates it was revealed the Government has no idea how many homeless Australians have been vaccinated,' said Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness Jason Clare. 'Instead, they said it was a matter for the states. The vaccination rollout is the responsibility of the Federal Government and Scott Morrison is failing miserably. After failing to answer how many aged care residents and workers have got their jab, it beggars belief the Government has no idea how many Australians sleeping rough have been vaccinated.'
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NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and no new overseas-acquired cases. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic remains at 5,401. There were 22,583 tests reported, compared with the previous day's total of 18,672. NSW Health administered its highest-ever number of vaccines in one day, giving 15,410 vaccines, including 5,521 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 1,419,005, with 477,265 doses administered by NSW Health.
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Aged Care

7 June

NT: Strengthening aged care training in the Territory
The NT Government and Charles Darwin University (CDU) are boosting training for the next generation of aged care workers with the construction of a new Training Centre for Aged Care at CDU's Casuarina campus. NT Minister for Jobs and Training Paul Kirby, NT Minister for Education and Seniors Lauren Moss and the CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman AO joined to announce the NT Government's $1.7 million investment to strengthen aged care workforce skills across the sector.
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4 June

PM blames workers to cover up aged care bungle
The political football of mandatory vaccinations is a classic case of misdirection by the Federal Government, United Workers Union said. 'The Federal Government's approach this week has been a disgraceful political cook-up to shift blame onto workers,' United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith said. 'The vaccine rollout in Australia has been a joke. Aged care workers and residents have been put in harm's way by the Federal Government's inability to effectively provide access to the lifesaving vaccine. Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt have tried to use the issue of mandatory vaccination as a smokescreen for their own failure in providing vaccines to aged care workers.'
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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

8 June

Dedicated national helpline for Australians with autism
The first national helpline for Australians with autism will provide online, digital and phone-based support services to improve the lives of people on the autism spectrum. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government would provide $8.4 million to expand Autism Connect into a national support service. 'From diagnosis through to adulthood, we want to ensure the more than 200,000 Australian people with autism have the right support to meet their needs and participate fully in the community,' Minister Ruston said. 'Autism Connect will be the first national helpline for people with autism and provide independent and expert information in a variety of formats.'
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7 June

Cultural connection may reduce First Nations youth suicide rate
Increasing cultural connection and reducing discrimination could reduce the number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who die by suicide, according to research published by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA). 'Four times as many First Nations people under 18 years of age die by suicide as other young Australians, and over 7 times as many First Nations children under 15,' wrote the authors of the study, led by Ms Mandy Gibson, a Senior Research Assistant with the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University.
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Clinical Governance

9 June

AMA and Government agree to strengthening the MBS Review process and informed financial consent
The Government and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have reached agreement to work together to co-design the administrative processes that support implementation of future changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure all parts of the system are ready. This recognises that some changes are complex and require additional time to flow through systems to support high quality patient care and informed financial consent. The MBS Review Taskforce has overseen the most comprehensive review of Medicare since it began, said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt.
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Australia should be world's healthiest country
The AMA will lay out its vision for the future of the Australian health system in a major speech to the National Press Club, with the goal of making Australia the healthiest nation in the world. The AMA's Vision for Australia's Health looks beyond the pandemic and provides a blueprint to secure a robust, sustainable health system for decades to come with high quality, patient centred care at its heart. The vision outlines areas of the health system in need of reform based around five policy pillars - general practice, public hospitals, private health and an equitable, innovative health system for all.
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Construction and Health Infrastructure

None this edition.

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Dental

None this edition.

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Disabilities

10 June

Launch of the NDIS National Workforce Plan
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Linda Reynolds a national plan to build a more responsive and capable NDIS workforce. Minister Reynolds said the NDIS National Workforce Plan: 2021-2025 will support participants to meet their needs and achieve their goals. 'An additional 83,000 workers will be required to support around 530,000 NDIS participants in the next four years, bringing the total workforce to 353,000,' Minister Reynolds said.
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Statement on Australian Foundation for Disability allegations
The allegations raised by the ABC about the Australian Foundation for Disability are very concerning. 'On becoming aware of these allegations, I contacted the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Commissioner who confirmed that the Commission is looking into these matters,' Minister Reynolds said. 'All NDIS providers and their workers must abide by the NDIS Code of Conduct. If providers are required to be registered by the NDIS Commission, they must also comply with conditions of registration. This includes an obligation to act with integrity, honesty and transparency.'
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8 June

Dedicated national helpline for Australians with autism
The first national helpline for Australians with autism will provide online, digital and phone-based support services to improve the lives of people on the autism spectrum. Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government would provide $8.4 million to expand Autism Connect into a national support service. 'From diagnosis through to adulthood, we want to ensure the more than 200,000 Australian people with autism have the right support to meet their needs and participate fully in the community,' Minister Ruston said. 'Autism Connect will be the first national helpline for people with autism and provide independent and expert information in a variety of formats.'
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7 June

COVID-19 vaccination eligibility extended to all NDIS participants and carers over 16
All National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Tuesday, 8 June. Minister Reynolds thanked National Cabinet for expanding the eligibility of NDIS participants. 'National Cabinet has refined the national vaccination rollout plan to maximise opportunities for Australians to be vaccinated over the second half of the year, in line with increased supply,' Minister Reynolds said. 'Opening up the vaccine eligibility to all NDIS participants over 16 is a very important step toward this goal.'
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4 June

More vaccination options for people with disability
The Government is establishing dedicated vaccination hubs in key locations to provide additional safe and accessible locations for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants in Phase 1 to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. NDIS disability workers and primary carers of people with disability will also be able to access the hubs. Minister Reynolds said the number of NDIS participants getting vaccinated is growing. As at 1 June 2021 nearly 38,000 NDIS participants had received at least one dose of the vaccine, an increase of approximately 6,600 since 25 May 2021.
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Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

9 June

09 JUN 2021: ROYAL COMMISSION INTO VIOLENCE, ABUSE, NEGLECT & EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY: Transcript of Proceedings - Public Hearing 14, Day 3

8 June

08 JUN 2021: ROYAL COMMISSION INTO VIOLENCE, ABUSE, NEGLECT & EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY: Transcript of Proceedings - Public Hearing 14, Day 2

7 June

The Disability Royal Commission will hear evidence regarding death of NDIS participant Ann-Marie Smith
The Disability Royal Commission holds its second hearing on disability service providers. The 5-day investigation is expected to focus on service provision in South Australia, including the circumstances surrounding the death of Ann-Marie Smith, an NDIS participant who died in April last year after being grossly neglected in her home by her support worker. Ms Smith is reported to have been left, for an extended period of time, in a woven cane chair before passing away from a combination of septic shock and organ failure caused by malnutrition, said People with Disability Australia (PWDA).
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E-Health

None this edition.

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Education and Training

None this edition.

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Funding

None this edition.

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Health Professionals

10 June

Doctors are also patients and entitled to same natural justice
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) made a submission to the Senate inquiry into administration of registration and notifications of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), saying doctors have grave concerns about mandatory reporting requirements. AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said: 'Practitioners are also patients and should have equal rights to access confidential, high-quality medical treatment - just as their patients do.'
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9 June

AFAO welcomed the adoption of bold new United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS
A new United Nations political declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted at the High Level Meeting in New York will drive greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA), more ambitious treatment targets, and acknowledgement of the power of treatment as prevention, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations said. The declaration also recognised the importance of services to support people living with HIV as they age. 'The 2021 Declaration, adopted by the overwhelming majority, and opposed by only four countries, reflects ground-breaking new targets for treatment, prevention, human rights, and community leadership in the global response to the HIV epidemic,' AFAO CEO Darryl O'Donnell said.
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Hospitals

10 June

VIC: Families separated, sick Victorians wait for care as hospital wait list crisis worsens
Victoria's hospital wait list crisis continues to worsen, with a woman from the Woomera, who is 20 weeks pregnant and in need of urgent treatment for fluid on her brain, forced to wait more than a week to be granted access to a hospital bed. Despite all family members living in a region with no active cases of coronavirus, current COVID restrictions prevented her from being with her husband, Sam, and young daughter during her wait for treatment. Victorian Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kelly said their story was one of many that laid bare the harrowing toll of lockdown.
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9 June

TAS: Important milestone reached for collocated hospital in Launceston
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Tasmanian Minister for Health Jeremy Rocklike have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Calvary Health Care to accelerate the delivery of their $120 million collocated private hospital. Premier Peter Gutwein said this agreement will pave the way for development of a new co-located hospital adjacent to the Launceston General Hospital, enabling better health services and boosting attraction and retention of health professionals, including specialists to the community. 'Accelerating the delivery of the development of a co-located hospital will bring an estimated investment of around $120 million to the city, which is expected to create 1,400 direct and indirect jobs in the building and construction sector,' Mr Gutwein said.
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7 June

Hip fracture: Transfer time to surgery not associated with greater 30-day mortality
New research has shown that patients with hip fractures who must be transferred from their local hospital to an operating hospital, do not risk higher 30-day mortality, despite the increased time to surgery. Published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) the research evaluated the impact of pre-surgery hospital transfer and time to surgery on 30-day mortality for people aged 65 years or more who underwent surgical interventions for fall-related hip fractures in NSW public hospitals during 1 January 2011 - 31 December 2018.
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Insurance

None this edition.

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Medicare

9 June

AMA and Government agree to strengthening the MBS Review process and informed financial consent
The Government and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have reached agreement to work together to co-design the administrative processes that support implementation of future changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure all parts of the system are ready. This recognises that some changes are complex and require additional time to flow through systems to support high quality patient care and informed financial consent. The MBS Review Taskforce has overseen the most comprehensive review of Medicare since it began, said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt.
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7 June

Medicare changes require more communication
The Consumers Health Forum has urged the Government to consider a short pause on the introduction of proposed changes to Medicare benefits in to allow time for a communication and implementation strategy to help consumers and doctors prepare for the changes. Changes to around 900 Medicare Benefits Schedule orthopaedic, cardiac and general surgery items are due to be introduced from 1 July as a result of a detailed five-year review by a Government-appointed taskforce aimed at ensuring Medicare payments reflect the latest in cost effective and evidence-based medicine.
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Scott Morrison's attack on Medicare
'Scott Morrison has the biggest attack on Medicare in decades,' said Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler. 'Under the cover of an understandable national focus on the Victorian COVID-19 outbreak, Scott Morrison has snuck out almost 1,000 changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Australians that are already suffering are being punished even further because of Scott Morrison's ruthless Medicare cuts. Patients have been left in limbo for months waiting to know if their procedure will still be covered or what changes will be made.'
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Men's Health

None this edition.

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Mental Health

11 June

VIC: Delivering the mental health support Victorians deserve
Victorians will get the mental health support and care they need, with the Victorian Government to provide additional funding as demand for services increases during current restrictions. Though they're important and necessary, these temporary measures can affect the mental health and wellbeing of Victorians, including children and young people - which is why the Government will provide $9.57 million to meet increased demand. Headspace centres are often the first place young people reach out to for help - so it's critical young Victorians are not turned away or placed on a waiting list for months, said
Victorian Minister for Mental Health James Merlino.
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10 June

Fiscal benefits of mental illness and injury prevention
Implementing stronger monitoring and prevention measures in Australian workplaces could help avoid a significant share of mental illnesses and injuries. Alongside reducing the toll of mental illness for workers and their families, these measures would also generate substantial economic and fiscal benefits. Unsafe workplaces can contribute to the incidence of mental illness and injury. Other workplace factors that can contribute to mental health problems include unreasonable job demands, exposure to violence and trauma, long or irregular working hours, an absence of worker voice and control, and bullying and harassment., said the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA).
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8 June

New hope for Australians with eating disorders
There is new hope and help available for Australians with eating disorders, with the opening of the Wandi Nerida centre on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Wandi Nerida is Australia's first specialist residential eating disorder recovery centre. The Government has provided funding of $6 million for the establishment of the Centre, which will be operated by a subsidiary of the Butterfly Foundation. It has 13 beds with shared accommodation, and has been purpose-built to create a home-like environment for participants, said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt, Assistant Minister to the Minister for Mental Health David Coleman and Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace.
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NSW: Free mental health workshops for parents and carers
Parents and carers will be able to book in for free mental health workshops hosted by headspace, thanks to a $1.2 million investment by the NSW Government. NSW Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the workshops will help parents and carers better understand the unique challenges facing young people and learn practical tips, strategies and skills to support them. 'These sessions are for any parent or carer who is worried about their child and doesn't know how to start a conversation about what's going on in their lives,' said Mrs Taylor. 'We're building a safer, stronger NSW, and these workshops will address local challenges.'
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7 June

Cultural connection may reduce First Nations youth suicide rate
Increasing cultural connection and reducing discrimination could reduce the number of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who die by suicide, according to research published by the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA). 'Four times as many First Nations people under 18 years of age die by suicide as other young Australians, and over 7 times as many First Nations children under 15,' wrote the authors of the study, led by Ms Mandy Gibson, a Senior Research Assistant with the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University.
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ACT: Supporting positive mental health outcomes for students
The Youth Aware of Mental Health program has been delivered to over 3,000 Year 9 students, promoting positive mental health outcomes for young Canberrans. ACT Minister for Mental Health Emma Davidson spoke to students at Campbell High School, about their experiences of the program, which is running the program for a second time. Campbell High School first participated in the program in 2020 and is running it again this year. The school will also help evaluate the program. 'It's important for everyone in our community to have access to mental health supports in places which suit their needs,' Minister Davidson said.
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6 June

$16.6 million investment for perinatal mental health services
The Government is building on its commitment to support the mental health and wellbeing of expectant and new parents by investing $16.6 million into nine new projects as part of the Perinatal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program, said Minister Hunt. It is estimated that up to one in ten women experience depression while pregnant, and one in seven women in the year after birth. Men can also experience perinatal mental illness, with approximately one in ten expectant and new fathers experiencing depression, anxiety or other forms of emotional distress in the perinatal period, said Assistant Minister Coleman.
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Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System

None this edition.

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Pharmaceuticals and Regulation

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