The Australian Medical Association came out swinging yesterday in response to an article in The Medical Journal of Australia by Dr Tony Webber, a GP who until recently headed the Medicare watchdog.
Australian Medical Association
Crikey Says: An apple a day …
The AMA supports Rudd’s plans. Start
worrying.
The Government’s plan to establish local boards for health services — dominated by medical staff and medical thinking — shows an astonishing lack of understanding of the health care system, its ethics and its power base, says health economist Gavin Mooney.
Midwives damn AMA-induced amendments to maternity reform
Rather than listening to medical advice on the long-awaited maternity reforms, the government pays attention to a union more focused on protecting incomes than helping prospective mothers, writes Professor Lesley Barclay and Professor Sally Tracy.
Swine flu vaccine’s image problem
Public demand for the new swine flu vaccine may be underwhelming, writes Dr Julie Leask. For people to want a vaccine they must not only believe it is safe. They must also think it is necessary.
A return to relevance for the AMA?
The election of Dr Andrew Pesce as AMA President is a clear rejection of the carping and whining style of advocacy preferred by the outgoing President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua.
Untangling Australia’s healthcare system
Like any good review, the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Report has given the Government a reason to delay considering vexing healthcare issues, writes Bernard Keane.
It’s time to put medical self-regulation down
The current medical self-regulatory regime is failing to protect the public from harm, writes Gary Sauer-Thompson.
Why Labor shouldn’t just listen to doctors on health
Nicola Roxon is claiming to be more than a “health minister for doctors”, a less than veiled reference to the influence wielded by the AMA with her predecessor Tony Abbott; but what will the reality be? asks Fiona Armstrong.
Memo: to the next Indigenous Affairs minister
Dear Minister, Welcome to Indigenous affairs. I guess you backed the “other guy” last time there was a leadership contest and thus, you’ve been sent to the ministerial equivalent of Siberia. In any case, we’re all really looking forward to working with you. Now, to matters at hand…
“Volunteer” doctors on the federal payroll
It’s been widely reported, in the general and medical media, that around 600 doctors have volunteered to take part in the Federal Government’s initiative in the NT. This doesn’t mean, however, that the doctors will be working for free.
