MDA truly National
MDA National, a West Australian enterprise since 1925, is transferring registration in line with its growing national reach. The original doctor group that made up the Medical Defence Association of WA (MDAWA) under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987 (WA) now becomes MDA National Limited, registered as a company limited by guarantee under ASIC (as is its insurance arm, MDA National Insurance). The EGM approval on July 15 coincides with the MDO’s move into wholly-owned premises in West Perth, the head office for its national operations, now servicing 24% of Australia’s doctors. Retired members will be entitled to vote for the Mutual Board (previously ‘Council’) under the new Constitution.
Dropping the ball
An alliance appears to have emerged between the Curtin public health unit, AMA WA, and Healthway. Encouraged by their success with anti-tobacco lobbying, the alliance now have their sights set on junk food promotion on TV and through sport. However, they have a harder fight on their hands as sport has its own health messages (when tobacco didn’t) and diverting support funds from mums-and-dads sports to research and the promotion of healthy messages alone, without increasing sports participation rates amongst kids, is going to be hard to justify. See page 10 for our e-poll of healthy sponsorship of kids’ sports.
Pathology reshuffle
WA seems set for some consolidation amongst Pathology providers in WA. As we go to press, it has been reported that St John of God Pathology is putting out feelers for a purchaser and amongst those doing due diligence, Sonic Healthcare, owner of Clinipath Pathology, Bunbury Pathology and SKG Radiology, is front runner. St John of God Pathology reportedly private bills around 15% of services, regarded as moderately high in the industry. With the burgeoning collecting centres across all providers since deregulation in early 2010 (centres more than doubled for some), plus the squeeze on Medicare rebates, pathology providers are looking for economies of scale. St John of God, with 55 collecting centres, does not have the vertical integration that ownership of medical centres provides. Plus the not-for-profit status affords tax advantages that need to be discounted by any for-profit purchaser. Any amalgamation of providers will likely see redundancies amongst scientific and ancillary staff such as couriers, although clinicians – SJOGP lists 22 pathologists – are still high in demand.
Country strong
Remember when all the regional hospitals were closing down due to lack of staff and perceived inefficiencies? Royalties for Regions has changed all that with $47m now earmarked to upgrade country hospitals, although they are uncertain as to what needs upgrading where, as yet. That’s Katanning Hospital ($35.43m), Northam Hospital ($31.2m), Narrogin Hospital ($39.86m), Merredin Hospital ($7.45m), Warren Hospital Manjimup ($4.86m), and Collie Hospital ($8.63m). An extra $36.5m is going to Telehealth. The WA Country Health Service has the job of finding the extra private GPs from across Australia and internationally. Thank God for Brendon and the Nationals.
Rural spending
Other post-budget regional health spending in WA includes: $82.9m to fix workforce problems to improve resources and 24-hour emergency response; $43.4m for the Primary Health Care Demonstration Program, where local communities get to deliver health services better; $20m to encourage private operators to expand residential aged care and dementia care across the southern inland area; and $08.8m for capital works on small hospitals and nursing posts, to improve services where there is no GP.
Double dipping
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research will retain its current building in Subiaco but will get $65m from the State and $40m from the Commonwealth to co-locate with the new PMH at the QEII site. We are talking the end of 2015. Having research facilities for clinicians has always been a key factor for attracting the right people, and vice versa, of course. Institute Director Prof Fiona Stanley said the Institute facility within the new building would be a state of the art design that caters for more than 500 researchers, staff and students.
Working under influence
Using data collected from 23,000 Australian residents aged 12 and over during the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), researchers now report that 8.7% of respondents reported usually drinking at work (5.6% said under the influence) and 0.9% usually use drugs at work. Workplace drugs were most commonly painkillers, amphetamines, and methamphetamines, followed by cannabis and ecstasy. Young, male, never-married workers with no dependent children were more likely than other groups to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No wonder our mining mates up north do spot drug and alcohol checks.
Complementary but separate
Complementary Healthcare Council (CHC) is pleased ANZ governments are not going to lump complementary medicines in with mainstream drugs when it sets up the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency (ANZTPA). CHC wants its own regulatory authority that recognises the philosophical differences between their low risk products and mainstream drugs. They say 70%+ of Australians consume their products, $9b annually to do it, and consumption drives 254 major businesses with exports to 20+ countries and direct employment of 5000+.