Rich nations’ refusal to take on the pharmaceutical industry could ‘prolong the pandemic indefinitely’, warned one campaigner.
Category: Health
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Will NSW’s opening up to international travel lead to internal borders closing down?
Returning travellers need clearer information on internal and international movement.
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What really happened — not just in Wuhan — to spark the COVID-19 pandemic
After months of advance publicity, book extracts and a Sky News documentary, most of us already know where Sharri Markson and News Corp believe the COVID-19 pandemic began.
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Mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic the Javanese way
On the surface, it looks like Indonesia has the pandemic under control — a summery success story for the world’s fourth-most populous country. In truth, there’s a more wintery tale to tell.
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In a post-Covid Australia, telehealth underpins the future for healthcare
Given the success of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients and health case workers, it’s about time it was made permanent in Australia.
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A year and 3.5 million deaths later, ‘greed is triumphing over human life’ in vaccine fight
‘How many more people must die needlessly before countries do the right thing and support the lifting of patent restrictions, so COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments can be produced worldwide?’
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For 21st century primary health care, we need bold and brave leadership
It’s long past time to implement primary care reforms — but whose voices are being heard in the discussion?
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After the pandemic, virtual healthcare is the future
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted perceptions of the health system. With virtual healthcare, some acute conditions can be treated at home.
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Three Catholic Archbishops: A viral infection
One would hope that, at a time of crisis, archbishops would be careful not to lend their authority in a way that could be construed as supporting anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown sentiments.
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How the Doherty model has been politically weaponised.
Political agendas have become more important than health policy in our current response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Clayton’s but secret Covid national plan
Those hoping for clarification on the national COVID-19 plan from last week’s national cabinet meeting will be disappointed. The main outcome from the meeting was a statement about the importance of its discussions and documents remaining “cabinet in confidence”.
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Dealing with community despair in the time of Covid
As the public health measures work to suppress the pandemic, community relations and connections are at risk. A sense of community, togetherness and mutual support is needed, now and in the long-term.
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How nurse practitioners have been shut out of the vaccine rollout
Privately practising nurse practitioners offer the best solution for vaccinated marginalised populations, but they have been excluded from access to Commonwealth emergency pandemic vaccines.
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Covid on the inside: A Sydney doctor’s perspective. I can face tomorrow
Caring for COVID-19 patients in a Sydney hospital through the city’s latest outbreak, a doctor reflects on the impact the pandemic is having on our healthcare system and the people who work in it.
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Genocide by big pharma. Millions will die
Big pharma is fiercely opposing measures to scale up production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. This corporate genocide must be named. Stop protecting crooks.
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Three unjustified problems with the Queensland euthanasia bill
The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill goes too far in trampling on the rights of those who want nothing to do with it in the last stages of their own life or in their long term relationships with their patients and residents. (more…)
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‘Everybody did it’: wealthy doctors’ lobbies ride JobKeeper gravy train
JobKeeper for dentists? Fair enough. But more public subsidies for doctors’ lobby groups? Callum Foote reports on Australia’s medical colleges refusing to pay back millions in JobKeeper payments.
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A house divided against itself cannot tame the pandemic
St Matthew tells us that Jesus was at pains to teach his disciples that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. The truism comes to mind as one looks in vain for the United States of Australia, an entity essential for our taming of the Covid pandemic.
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Go hard, go early. But the PM prefers a go slow on key issues
The Treasury advice to government at the time of the Global Financial Crisis was to “go hard, go early” with counter-measures, and that has since become an accepted model when confronted with an unexpected, major, crisis. (more…)
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Reaching 80% vaccination isn’t the same for all communities. The vulnerable will continue to suffer.
The NSW government has made much of the promise that something good will happen when localities achieve 80 per cent of second jabs of eligible people. But not all numbers are equal.
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NSW’s reopening plan is risky, and signals an end to a national approach
By abandoning the national plan, NSW’s gamble to go it alone on easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people further fractures federalism… NSW initially locked down too little and too late.
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Sunday environmental round up.
Small farmers and local, sustainable food production more likely to feed the world than multinational corporations supported by government subsidies. Health professionals come out fighting on climate change and Biden hears the roar. 2020 and the planet is in its worst shape ever.
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In a liberal capitalist society, Charlie Teo exemplifies the freedom and the potential of the entrepreneur
Does the unease about well-known neurosurgeon Charlie Teo arise from jealousy? Or is there something wrong with the wider social system?
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John Menadue-At last,Australia backs Covid vaccine patent waiver. Better late than never
People’s vaccines may yet become a reality. Let’s hope so despite opposition by Big Pharma and rich countries.
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Doherty has ditched the pledge to First Nations Australians
The Doherty Institute says it’s committed to Indigenous Australians, but it fails to protect marginalised communities.
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When should the lockdown end?
Suppressing the virus will require much lower caseloads before lockdowns can lift, even if we meet vaccination targets.
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Fix the means test for a consumer-friendly retirement income system
Australia’s retirement income system needs reform to make it more secure and user friendly.
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A major revamp of health workforce planning and research infrastructure is necessary in Australia
How do we plan and deliver a healthcare workforce that is more responsive to population needs?
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The virus and social cultures: A national plan beyond Doherty
Australia needs a new and realistic national plan for emerging from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A food for special medical purposes for cancer patients?
Yet another example of a major discrepancy in consumer protection in the regulation of therapeutic claims made for medicines compared to therapeutic claims made for food.