Q85 Medical and Other Health Care Services

Researchers hail heart transplant breakthrough

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Original article by Kate Hagan
The Age – Page: 2 : 15-Aug-14

Frank Rosenfeldt, head of cardiothoracic surgical research at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne, has developed a new way of keeping donor hearts for transplants viable during transfer. It uses a device to flush waste out of the organs and supply them with a solution of oxygen and nutrients, thereby extending the time they can be kept outside the body from the current four hours to up to a dozen. The first surgery relying on the method is set to be scheduled at the hospital before late 2015

CORPORATES
ALFRED HOSPITAL

Co-payment faces battle in Senate

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 13-Aug-14

The Palmer United Party continues to oppose the Australian Government’s $A7 Medicare co-payment. However, Health Minister Peter Dutton says the current bulk-billing rate of 83 per cent is unsustainable and needs to be addressed. He has also foreshadowed exempting more people from the co-payment. Meanwhile, Treasurer Joe Hockey has urged the Senate to support the proposed reintroduction of fuel indexation

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL COMMISSION OF AUDIT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Junk food classified healthy and then advertised on TV

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Original article by Harriet Alexander
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 7-Aug-14

Australian Communications & Media Authority rules ban companies from advertising unhealthy food during children’s TV programs in certain time slots. However new Cancer Council New South Wales data show that under the self-classification of food products by signatories to the voluntary Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative, many snack items are simply treated as if they were healthy. If applying the Food Standards Australia New Zealand nutrient profiling, close to two thirds of all advertisements are in fact for unhealthy foods

CORPORATES
FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND BOARD, CANCER COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Fumes and smog deadly for city dwellers: report

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Original article by Heath Gilmore
The Age – Page: 7 : 4-Aug-14

The National Environment Protection Council has released a new study on the negative health effects of air pollution. Drawing on research by the University of Sydney, Southern Cross University, the University of Western Sydney and University of Wollongong, it shows that those living in Melbourne, Perth or Sydney will have their life expectancies cut by 72 days for men and 65 days for women. The culprit is fine particle pollution, and the lobbying body wants binding national standards to be rolled out that tackle the problem

CORPORATES
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG, SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY

AMA demand could cost $2b

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Original article by Joanna Heath, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Aug-14

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has proposed a compromise regarding the Federal Government’s Medicare co-payment. The AMA wants pensioners to be excluded from the $A7 co-payment regime, while it continues to oppose the Government’s plan to reduce the Medicare rebate for GPs. The Government’s May 2014 Budget forecast that these measures would result in cost savings of about $A3.5bn, but this would be slashed by up to $A2bn if it agrees to the AMA’s proposals

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

GPs may charge higher co-payment

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 30-Jul-14

Stephen Duckett of the Grattan Institute says the cost of visting a GP is a deterrent for many Australians on low incomes. There are concerns that more low-income earners will avoid visiting GPs if the Federal Government’s $A7 co-payment is introduced. Richard Bartlett of the Department of Health has conceded that GPs will be able to charge a higher co-payment. He also says the fee should have no impact on the provision of medical services

CORPORATES
GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Study finds lifestyle choices can offset ageing

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Original article by Nicky Phillips
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 3 : 30-Jul-14

Australian molecular biologist and Nobel Prize laureate Elizabeth Blackburn is among a group of scientists who have been studying factors in the ageing of DNA. Telomeres, protective caps on the ends of strands of DNA, are damaged when humans grow older, and this can cause cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease. The team of researchers has found that the process can be slowed by maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep

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Stem cell treatment fears after Brisbane mum dies in Russia

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Original article by Bridie Smith
The Age – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-14

The National Health & Medical Research Council in Australia has warned consumers about the risks in opting for unproven and unregulated stem cell treatments, including in overseas locations. "Stem cell tourism" is being promoted by groups such as the Adult Stem Cell Foundation, but bodies including MS Australia and Stem Cells Australia are urging patients to seek the advice of medical professionals. A Brisbane woman who had gone to Russia for stem cell treatment as she suffered from Stiff Person Syndrome has died of heart failure during the procedure

CORPORATES
STEM CELLS AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, MS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ADULT STEM CELL FOUNDATION PTY LTD

Sun offers hope in cancer battle

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Original article by Kim Macdonald
The West Australian – Page: 9 : 28-Jul-14

Professor Rachel Neale of Brisbane’s QIMR Berghoffer Medical Research Institute is undertaking a study to determine whether ultraviolet rays can significantly lower the risk of developing some forms of cancer. Professor Neale hopes to prove the hypothesis that rather than being harmful, exposure to the sun can in fact reduce the risk of developing ovarian, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers. She is seeking 25,000 people to participate in the study

CORPORATES
QIMR BERGHOFER MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UNITED STATES. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Public safety at risk over cardiac calls: Firefighters

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Original article by Nino Bucci
The Age – Page: 9 : 28-Jul-14

The Fair Work Commission is hearing a dispute between the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the United Firefighters Union in Victoria. The latter had during the 2013-14 summer argued that its members were not properly prepared to attend to cardiac arrest calls during a record heatwave. The MBF had wanted to roster an additional 30 staff, as 300 such emergencies were forecast. Firefighters accompany Ambulance Victoria paramedics to all incidents where patients have stopped breathing

CORPORATES
UNITED FIREFIGHTERS’ UNION OF AUSTRALIA, METROPOLITAN FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES BOARD, MELBOURNE METROPOLITAN FIRE BRIGADE, AMBULANCE VICTORIA FIRST AID, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION