Aboriginal Health in the NT – Small Gains but a Long Way to Go
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Follow Australian Medicine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/amaausmed Government unveils new Health team Pledge to end the waste and focus on the front line, p4 Inside Don’t forget the Gap, p3 Organ donation - not so rare Welsh bits, p6 Global child deaths down by almost half, p8 Doctors volunteer to work in Syria, p10 Right of Private Practice, p17 Small gains in NT Aboriginal health, p18 ISSUE 25.19 - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 AUSTRALIAN MEDICINE - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 Renew your registrationsee p12 AUSTRALIAN Managing Editor: John Flannery Editor: Adrian Rollins Production Coordinator: Kirsty Waterford IN THIS ISSUE Contributors: Sanja Novakovic, Debra Vermeer Graphic Design: Streamline Creative, Canberra Advertising enquiries NEWS Streamline Creative Tel: (02) 6260 5100 Fax: (02) 6260 5200 Australian Medicine is the na tion al news publication of the Australian Medical 4-13 Association Limited. (ACN 008426793) 42 Macquarie St, Barton ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6270 5400 Facsimile: (02) 6270 5499 REGULAR FEATURES Web: www.ama.com.au Email: [email protected] Australian Medicine welcomes diversity of opinion on national health issues. For this reason, published articles reflect the views of the 3 vice PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless stated. Contributions may be edited for clarity and length. 14 YOUR AMA AT WORK Acceptance of advertising material is at the absolute discretion of the Editor and does not imply endorsement by the magazine or the AMA. 15 GENERAL PRACTICE All material in Australian Medicine remains the copyright of the AMA or the author and may not be reproduced without permission. The material in Australian Medicine is for general information and guidance 16 dOCTORS IN TRAINING only and is not intended as advice. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or currency of the information. The AMA, its servants and agents will not be liable for any claim, loss or damage arising out of 17 salaried DOCTORS reliance on the information in Australian Medicine. 18 indiGENOUS HEALTH EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 20 OPINION 21 RESEARCH 25 members’ FORUM 27 MOTORING President Vice President Dr Steve Hambleton Prof Geoffrey Dobb 28 MEMBER SERVICES Chairman of Council Treasurer Dr Iain Dunlop Dr Elizabeth Feeney Executive Officer Executive Officer Dr Brian Owler Dr Stephen Parnis 2 AUSTRALIAN MEDICINE - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 vice president’s message Don’t forget the ‘Gap’! BY AMA VICE PRESIDENT PROFESSOR GEOFFREY DOBB The election is over and a new identity has been and will continue to be to report to the Prime Minister within Government has taken the reins in a vital and enriching one’. six months, and increased support for Canberra. training of up to $45 million. The Greens’ policy on First Australians It’s interesting to reflect that although concentrates on two issues: providing The Coalition’s overall policy on health was in the top two or three issues essential services, and caring for country Indigenous Affairs appeared late in for electors, it hardly rated in the daily and community building. the campaign. It addresses education, media cycles that dominated the theatre employment, health, housing and Specific health policies are to close the of the electioneering. recognition. gap in hearing health, targeting services Even less visible were the issues relating to stop blindness for ATSI people, and On health, the Coalition committed to Indigenous Affairs. Clearly no Party boosting funding for community-based to maintain the funding in the Budget sees too many votes in an area that mental health services in rural and allocated to Closing the Gap in Health as has challenged successive Australian regional Australia. well as the support to address the social Governments. That isn’t to say this was determinants of health. ‘Labor is for First Australians’ headlines a policy-free zone. Varying amounts of their website policy. The policy statement They also commit to establishing a Prime material have been available on the Party recognises that Labor’s approaches to end Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, websites. disadvantage haven’t worked but records headed by Warren Mundine, transferring One in five of the patients I see are their ‘unprecedented effort and record responsibility for Indigenous programs Aboriginal. The hospital that I work in investment’. to the Department of Prime Minister and is only surpassed by Royal Darwin and Cabinet, and to progress Constitutional The ‘Closing the Gap’ targets remain at Alice Springs hospitals in terms of the recognition. the heart of the policy. One of these is to number of Aboriginal patients treated. halve the difference in unemployment Interestingly, the Coalition also commits I see the ‘Gap’ every day. rates between Indigenous and non- to providing $5 million to design a So what can be gleaned from the Indigenous Australians by 2018. They five-year trial of Jawun’s Empowered Party websites to provide a guide to also agree with the Expert Panel on Communities initiative. the approach and interest of the new Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal Despite the lack of mainstream media Parliament? and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that a attention during the election campaign, referendum should be held – at a time It’s probably not a surprise that the micro- the Coalition clearly have policy when it has the greatest chance of success Parties do not reveal a lot. From the other initiatives that suggest the ‘Gap’ will not – to change the Australian Constitution to Parties that will participate in our national be forgotten in Government. recognise their place in our society and government, I looked for policies that culture. They should be heartened by the policies might influence the social determinants of other Parties in Parliament who should of health or specific Indigenous health The Coalition – now in Government support continuation of ‘Closing the Gap’ policy. – went into more detail in their policy initiatives, actions to address the social statements with a Policy on Indigenous The Palmer United Party refers to determinants of health, and Constitutional employment in addition to the overall ‘… equality of opportunity with all recognition. policy on Indigenous Affairs. Australians having the opportunity to Those who remember the Prime reach their full potential in a tolerant The policy on Indigenous employment Minister’s interest in Indigenous health national community.’ addresses one of the key social during his time as Health Minister will determinants of health. recognise his genuine personal interest in They also recognise that the Europeans this area. This should mean the ‘Gap’ is who came to Australia over 200 years ago The main points include a review of far from forgotten. did not come to an empty land and that Indigenous training and employment to the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres be commissioned within one month of The AMA will look forward to significant Strait Islander peoples ‘… to Australia’s the election, headed by Andrew Forrest, progress over the next three years. TO COMMENT CLICK HERE AUSTRALIAN MEDICINE - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 AUSTRALIAN MEDICINE - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 3 NEWS New health team unveiled Senator Fiona Nash Kevin Andrews Senator Nigel Scullion Assistant Minister for Health Minister for Social Services Minister for Indigenous Affairs Peter Dutton, Minister for Health Senator Michael Ronaldson Senator Marise Payne Senator Mitch Fifield Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Minister for Human Services Assistant Minister for Social Services The AMA has welcomed the appointment positives in having the Health Minister also the of Peter Dutton as Minister for Health, with Minister for Sport.” AMA Vice President Professor Geoffrey Dobb Professor Dobb said the AMA is encouraged saying the AMA is keen to get to work with by the appointment of experienced people as all the Ministers and Assistant Ministers with Ministers with responsibilities in other areas of responsibilities across the health sector. the health system. Professor Dobb said that the AMA enjoyed “Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews, a constructive working relationship with Mr will be in charge of the administration of aged Dutton when he was Shadow Minister and will care, Senator Nigel Scullion is the Minister for build on that relationship to help deliver better Indigenous Affairs, Senator Michael Ronaldson health services for all Australians. is Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Marise “The new Government has been very clear Payne is the Minister for Human Services, and about its focus on primary health care and the the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator leadership role of general practice,” Professor Mitch Fifield, has responsibility for the National Dobb said. Disability Insurance Scheme. “We welcome the commitment to get rid of “The Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Fiona waste and bureaucracy and cut red tape in the Nash, is the Deputy Leader of the Nationals in health system, and we look forward to working the Senate and has a strong personal interest in with the Government on its review of Medicare rural health. Locals with a view to providing greater direct “The AMA will meet with all members of support to frontline services. the Government’s health team at the earliest opportunity,” Professor Dobb said. “It is appropriate that Mr Dutton has carriage of mental health at Cabinet level, and there are John Flannery TO COMMENT CLICK HERE 4 AUSTRALIAN4 MEDICINE - SEPTEMBER 23 2013 NEWS Lorenzo’s foiled The abandonment and cost