Archived News for Health Sector Professionals - February, 2012

The Federal Government will set up a new $5 million national electronic records system to combat abuse of controlled drugs including prescription painkillers.

The Electronic Recording and Reporting of Controlled Drugs system will be made available to doctors, pharmacists and state and territory health authorities across Australia to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of addictive drugs in real time. 

Professor Carol Armour has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Woolcock Institute, an independent medical research institute centre for respiratory and sleep disease research which is affiliated with the University of Sydney.

The appointment takes effect upon retirement of Professor Norbert Berend on 30 June 2012 after 12 years as Head of the Institute.

Professor Armour formally joined the Institute as a Research Leader in mid-2011. Her many years spent investigating clinical management of asthma from within the School of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney added significantly to the Institute's strengths in asthma research.

As a former Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University she also has extensive experience in research management and career building for students and young scientists.

The Institute, initially called the Institute for Respiratory Medicine, was founded 30 years ago by Professor Ann Woolcock, an internationally renowned asthma physician and researcher.

The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research has been leading research into respiratory diseases and sleep disorders for 30 years. With a world-class network of specialised researchers, the Woolcock Institute is focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and education on respiratory disease and sleep disorders for the community.

Demand for public emergency department (ED) care across Australia increased by 37 per cent throughout the decade ending in early 2010.

A new specialist cancer centre is being built at Lyell McEwin Hospital in Elizabeth Vale, one of Adelaide’s northern suburbs, with funding of $11.5 million provided jointly by the State and Commonwealth Government.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released a publication Ten of the Best Research Projects 2011, which profiles ten leading research projects undertaken by NHMRC-funded researchers.

The Boards of the  Children's Health Foundation Queensland and Royal Children's Hospital Foundation have agreed to create a single, new Children's Health Foundation Queensland that will preserve the structure of the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation - including staff and volunteers, - while also taking on a broader perspective across children's health state-wide.

Curtin University has responded to comments critical of its plans to establish a medical school.

The Federal and South Australian governments have announced a jointly funded $11.5 million cancer centre for Adelaide’s Lyell McEwin Hospital.

Anti-infective drug development company Biota Holdings has announced it will expand its headquarters in Victoria. The expansion is likely to see a 35 new, highly skilled jobs generated in the state by 2014.

The Federal Government looks likely to its private health means testing legislation through the Parliament, promising to win the government $2.4 billion in savings.

Principal directors of the George Institute for Global Health, Professor Stephen MacMahon and Professor Robyn Norton, have announced Associate Professor Vlado Perkovic as the executive director of the George Institute in Australia.

A research report published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) has found ‘dramatic’ improvement in waiting times in Western Australia.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxonSmithKline has announced it will invest $60 million in expanding its Boronia site in Victoria, which will generate 58 new jobs by 2017.

The University of Notre Dame Australia’s newly built Melbourne Clinical School at Werribee, Victoria has been officially opened.

A group of Australia’s leading cancer charities has called for a national cancer research plan to better coordinate investment in cancer research.

The Cancer Research Leadership Forum (CRLF) released a white paper, ‘Towards a National Cancer Research Plan’, on the eve of World Cancer Day (4 February).

The paper calls for the development of an all-encompassing national cancer research plan to coordinate investment in research and accelerate progress in cancer control.

Supported by Macquarie Group Foundation, the Cancer Research Leadership Forum is a voluntary coalition of major Australian charities, including Cancer Council Australia, formed in 2009 to fund cancer researchers and research projects, drive efficiencies across the sector and explore collaboration.

In 2011, almost $300 million was awarded to Australian cancer research projects by a range of funders from the public, private and community sectors.

Cancer Council CEO, Professor Ian Olver, said the plan was needed to reduce inefficiencies and gaps in the funding of cancer research.

“A research framework will provide a useful resource to help organisations set priorities for research funding,” Professor Olver said. “It is great to work with other cancer organisations towards a common goal.”

The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin has announced funding of $4.9 million over three years to deliver an online video-based initiative to improve access to qualified allied health and education services for families and children with disability in regional and remote communities.

The Remote Hearing and Vision Services for Children Initiative will deliver services via the National Broadband Network (NBN) to about 125 additional children in regional and remote Australia, building on the 100 children already supported by the Government.

Ms Macklin said the NBN was breaking new ground in service delivery for young children with disability.

“The NBN gives children with disability and their families the opportunity to get the best possible start to life, regardless of where they live,” Ms Macklin said.

“If there is no specialist close to where they live, a child with disability can access ‘real time’ support and advice through these new online services. For example, a child will be able to meet with a speech pathologist in Brisbane and have a therapy session online through this new video conferencing service.

“This will make a real difference in the lives of children with disability and help reduce the stress and pressures on families trying to access specialist services that are only available in large towns and cities.”

Ms Macklin and Senator McLucas announced there will be a competitive tender process to deliver the new services shortly.

Diabetes has increased significantly in the Australian population over the past 20 years, but associated deaths continue to trend downward according to a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Medication prescribing errors can be reduced by as much as 66 percent with the introduction of electronic prescribing technology in hospitals, new Australia-first research shows.