Prof Steve Robson Looks to the Future As AMA (ACT) President
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CANBERRA Informing the Canberra Doctor medical community since 1988 JUNE/JULY 2016 | Canberra Doctor is proudly brought to you by the AMA (ACT) Limited. Circulation: 1,900 in ACT & region Prof Steve Robson looks to the future as AMA (ACT) President Earlier in May, I had the privilege of taking over the Presidency of With the Australian Government as a whole. If we, as a profession, AMA (ACT) from my colleague, Dr Liz Gallagher. Liz has been an spending about $40 billion more expect funding for the work we do extremely popular and effective president and it was with some than it actually receives each year then we need to be able to dem- trepidation that I stepped into her shoes. We all owe Dr Gallagher a and no mining boom around the onstrate that we provide clinically corner to save us, it is clear that effective and cost-effective care. heartfelt vote of thanks for the wonderful job that she’s done. health expenditure must be justi- With the Federal Coalition having fied. There is absolutely no point in been returned, we face an election For those who don’t know me recognisable. The AC/DC album doctors calling for more and more for the ACT Legislative Assembly well, and those who are won- was released when I was at high spending without conceding that by mid-October. Health is the larg- dering what direction a clinical school and I don’t think a week funding will have to be taken away est single expenditure item for all academic might wish to take has gone by since then when I from something else to pay for it. state and territory governments, a your AMA, I thought a good start haven’t listened to at least one I hope we can capture some of Spending on the health of Aus- situation that provides us with both would be to introduce myself and track from the album. It has en- these enduring qualities at AMA tralians is undoubtedly a good an opportunity and a threat. Our let you know where I think our dured over almost four decades (ACT) over the next couple of years. investment, but like all invest- opportunity is to engage with gov- organisation should be focussed and become the biggest-selling ments a careful due diligence ernment and those seeking elec- A sustainable health system for the next two years. popular record of all time. It must be undertaken. I am part tion to help shape the approach to seems to me that there are three In 1984 when I first joined the of the Australian Government’s health spending and provide maxi- Back in Black reasons for this: the music is AMA as a medical student, health Review of the Medicare Benefits mum benefit for Canberrans. The threat? That we deal ourselves out For anybody of my vintage – shall completely unpretentious; all of spending was just over 6.5% of Schedule and have a keen sense of negotiations and end up having we say I’m in my mid-50s and the songs have memorable riffs; GDP. Thirty years later, the pro- of how important it is that spend- to accept what we are given. leave it at that – the three words and, it is done with a tremendous portion has grown to 8.8% of GDP ing is appropriate and benefits “Back in Black” will be instantly sense of fun. or around $150 billion annually. our patients and the community Continued page 4... VOLUME 28, No. 4 CANBERRA DOCTOR: Informing the Canberra medical community since 1988 AMA National Conference – a new President and much more While the key outcome of must be trained in performance Shadow Minister for Health, Cath- the conference was the management of their trainees erine King announced several election of Dr Michael and that any complaints must ALP initiatives including estab- Gannon as the new AMA be investigated quickly and thor- lishing an independent medical President, Dr Suzanne oughly by an independent inves- panel to advise the Department of Davey writes that was tigation team. The Royal Aus- Immigration on matters concern- tralian College of Surgeons have ing asylum seeker health; un- one highlight of many in freezing the Medicare rebate and a conference that offered announced a zero-tolerance ap- proach to bullying and harass- rejecting the rise in script costs so much. ment and they have appointed for all PBS scripts; setting up a an independent advisory group to permanent commission to advise the Australian, State and Territory Assisted dying investigate the issue and advise governments on healthcare re- the RACS how to address and The ABC’s Tony Jones moderated form – to be done in consultation prevent discrimination, bullying a Q & A style panel of experts to with clinicians. discuss assisted dying. The panel and sexual harassment in the consisted of Em Prof Bob Doug- practice of surgery. Other colleg- The leader of the Australian Green’s, las in a role as a potential aging es may learn from their approach Dr Richard Di Natale, stated that consumer, Ms Georgie Haysom, to deliver a safer, healthier and the Greens would aim to close off- head of advocacy at Avant, Dr Ka- more respectful work environ- shore refugee processing centres. ren Hitchcock, author and doc- ment. He supported the continuation of tor working in acute and general Medicare and rejected the concept Politicians, medicine at the Alfred hospital, of a Medicare rebate freeze. policy and pundits Professor Malcolm Parker, Pro- He stated that the Greens would fessor of Medical Ethics at Uni- Of course, an AMA Conference support primary care in order to versity of Queensland and Assoc cation which is to be self-adminis- of course, is exactly where this line in an election year is bound to reduce hospital admission rates Prof Mark Yates, geriatrician and tered by the terminally ill patient. should be drawn. attract politicians and discus- by providing a need method of authority on dementia. This medication can only be pre- Closing the gap sion on the election. While I’m funding the care of chronic care scribed after a 15 day cooling off The AMA position is that the doc- pleased to say we now have a patients. period between two requests by The AMA remains committed government, a quick recap on tor’s role is to alleviate pain, even Health Minister, Sussan Ley, was the patient. to trying to reduce disparities in the politicians and their party’s when that treatment may shorten guest speaker at the Gala Dinner. indigenous life expectancy and positions put to the conference is life. Not initiating or continuing The situation in Oregon was com- chronic disease outcomes and worthwhile – even if it’s only for The panel of pundits, facilitated life-prolonging measures does not pared with the very different mod- reducing rates of indigenous in- the record: by senior journalist Paul Bon- constitute euthanasia or physician el in some European countries carceration and supporting indig- assisted suicide. where the physician actually as- enous medical education. Facilita- The US state of Oregon’s Death sists in the suicide of a patient, at tor and Political reporter Brooke with Dignity Act, passed some 19 the patient’s request. Boney gave a moving account of the experiences of her own indige- years ago, was also similarly a fo- As might be expected, both the cus of the discussion. The Act sets nous family and their lack of health panel and questioners from the care and opportunities. up a framework for assisted dying floor, presented a variety of views, – the patient must be 18 or older, with all agreeing the role of the law Bullying and harassment mentally competent and diag- was to very clearly draw the line Dr Ruth Mitchell, neurosurgical nosed with a terminal illness that between palliative care that may trainee, and barrister specialis- will lead to death within 6 months hasten a patient’s death and the ing in discrimination law, em- In these circumstances, a doctor physician actually killing the pa- ployment law and administrative may prescribe a life-ending medi- tient at their request. The debate, law, made the points that doctors Assisted Dying Panel. ALP Health Spokesperson, Catherine King. [2] CANBERRA DOCTOR: Informing the Canberra medical community since 1988 JUNE/JULY 2016 Dr Paul Bauert, AMA medal winner for significant contribution (third from right), with AMA past presidents, Drs Pesche, Hambleton, Capolingu and Prof Owler. giorno, comprised Sue Dunlevy, Malcolm Farr, Andrew Probyn and Laura Tingle in the mode of an ‘Insiders’-type programme where the experts fielded ques- tions from the floor. The feeling amongst the group was that the election result would be very close, but would probably go the way of the Coalition based on their assessment of the way votes would fall in marginal elec- torates. They felt that, although Prime Minister Turnbull had failed to live up to his early promise, Aus- tralian electors simply did not have the appetite for a fifth prime Minister in as many years. Health and Education would remain the most important issues for most electors. Prof Brian Owler with Health Minister, Sussan Ley. New AMA Fellows (left), Drs Bartone, Mara, Sharley, Rudd and Gannon and Prof Brian Owler. JUNE/JULY 2016 CANBERRA DOCTOR: Informing the Canberra medical community since 1988 [3] Women in Medicine Breakfast On the Friday morning of the AMA National Conference held in late May, the AMA (ACT) held its inaugural Women in Medicine Breakfast. The WIM Breakfast was sponsored by Tress Cox Lawyers and featured an address by Dr Sue Packer AM.