Category: Health

Prolonged observation of domestic and global politics reveals a world that is continually being shaped by radical contingency and surrounded by absurdity. Other conditions can be seen, but the two just mentioned are the regnant operational conditions. (more…)

As Kathy Eagar discussed, positive reforms to the Australian aged care system are somewhat undercut by bigger costs for older people and increasing privatisation via the new Support at Home program. (more…)

In August, 1964, Norman Cousins, a former editor of the Saturday Review was diagnosed with a serious degenerative and painful disease of the connective tissue. He was given a one in five hundred chance of recovery. (more…)

As the first of the baby boomers turn 80 this year, the major parties are on a unity ticket sharing an ideological commitment to the private market and a commitment to make older people pay more for their aged care. Neither party has the details right. (more…)

Hardly a day passes without anxiety-laden news stories about falling birth rates across the globe. (more…)

Alcoholics Anonymous in Australia is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a national convention in Sydney this month. Ross  Fitzgerald, who has been sober for 55 years, looks at the organisation’s history. (more…)

Ministerial time is a scarce commodity. Hence setting priorities is critical. But, unfortunately, the minute I walk into my new office I will be assailed by the smell of a dead cat on my desk emanating from a stack of briefs on private sector issues. (more…)

In November 2011, eight months after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster, I travelled with Japanese colleagues to Iitate, a village some 50 kilometres from the stricken power plant. (more…)

Media and campaign coverage of the rekindled pitch for Australia to embrace nuclear power has focused on the poor economics, the protracted timelines of implementation, and dubious real-world benefits as a climate strategy. (more…)

There is a clear disconnect between the claims of the nuclear lobby and the real-world adverse consequences of nuclear energy. Communities, workers and indeed all Australians need accurate information about the health impacts. (more…)

It may be an inconvenient truth, but the fact is that, in terms of its harm, alcohol is by far Australia’s most dangerous drug. (more…)

“This isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s a political decision to let preventable diseases spread – to ignore science, lend legitimacy to anti-vaccine extremism, and dismantle the infrastructure that protects us all.” (more…)

Recently, the media has reported several cases of serious “adverse events”, where babies, children and an adult experienced harm and ultimately died while receiving care in separate Australian hospitals. (more…)

The inequity and inefficiencies in our current health programs and the resulting need for change, have been obvious for decades. Finding the necessary political boldness to change this situation has eluded us to date. I acknowledge that there have been a number of governments and ministers who wanted to improve the healthcare of Australians and the cost efficiency of the same. (more…)

Prime Minister Albanese has announced an $8.5 billion boost for Medicare to make bulk-billing available to all adults, not just concession card holders. Within hours, the Leader of the Opposition matched Labor’s bid. Both leaders are acutely aware that health care affordability is a critical issue for the electorate. In his commentary on P&I March 1 Ross Gittins states “Medicare has more problems than just out of pocket payments’. (more…)

American TV and movie comic Groucho Marx (no relation to Karl) had a gift for one liners, such as: “Honesty and fair dealing, that’s what people want. If we can fake that we can make a million!” (more…)