Category: News

DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES RELEASES GUIDE TO MEDTECH DIGITAL LANDSCAPE

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Medical distributor Device Technologies is championing this digital transformation, releasing a seven-part Digital Playbook. This provides insight into how changes in the digital landscape can benefit organisations in the Med Tech industry.

The Device Technologies Digital Playbook serves as a blueprint for building meaningful online consumer relationships, transforming user experience and taking a people-centric approach across various areas of business operations.

If you’re wondering how advances in technology apply to your organisation within the healthcare industry, download Device Technologies’ Digital Playbook to see how they approach digital. Be sure to follow them on LinkedIn for the next instalments.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Back To School – The Parliament Returns

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Tax

As expected, the week was dominated by the Government’s signature election policy, $158 billion in personal income tax cuts.

By the end of the week the Government had a major victory in securing the passage of its income tax cuts package in its entirety.

In doing so it had to secure deals with key crossbench Senators from Centre Alliance and Jacqui Lambie from Tasmania.

Centre Alliance secured from the Government a commitment to bring down gas prices, through yet to be announced policy changes to ensure downward pressure is brought to bear on retail gas prices.

For Jacqui Lambie, the Government have committed to provide as yet undefined aid to help with Tasmania’s homelessness crisis.  As she said earlier in the week she couldn’t support tax cuts for high income earners, while many in her home state “don’t even have a roof over their head”.

The week was also notable for what the Government outlined as its third term policy agenda through the Governor-General’s traditional opening speech to Parliament.

Is Industrial Relations back on the Agenda?

In the speech the Government flagged potential industrial relations reform.

The Government announced that, “…the Minister for Industrial Relations is reviewing the impediments to shared workplace gains for employers and employees.”

While lacking in detail it does flag a renewed interest in industrial relations reform that the Coalition Government previously had been loath to touch, for fear of a Work Choices style campaign that cost them Government in 2007.

For business they will take some heart that at last, the Coalition Government is willing to engage in a debate around IR reform, which for many is a ‘holy grail’ of economic reform.

Given Work Choices was over 12 year ago now, many in business have been waiting for the Government to show signs of interest in workplace reform.

A Touch of Bipartisanship

In the spirit of bipartisanship both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have agreed to work together on the issue of indigenous recognition in the constitution.

The Prime Minister has tasked his Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Ken Wyatt to work with Labor’s Shadow Minister Lynda Burney on a joint approach to this challenging issue.

What the final shape of such a joint approach will look is too soon to know, the issue of an indigenous voice to Parliament will no doubt feature prominently in discussions.

Summary

A big week for the Government and a big win for the Government with the passage of its $158 billion in personal income tax cuts.

The Parliament is now in recess until 22 July.

When the Parliament next resumes, no doubt the Government will be looking to resurrect its proposals to crackdown on lawlessness within unions and also implement its policy commitments from the April budget.[/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”1915″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jody Fassina is the Managing Director of Insight Strategy and has served as a strategic adviser to MedTech and pharmaceutical stakeholders.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Non-Caloric Stevia Leaf Sweetener Recognised as Generally Considered Safe For Consumption

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How it works:

BESTEVIA Reb E, SweeGen’s is a non-caloric, high-purity stevia sweetener, produced from the stevia leaf through a non-GMO bioconversion process.

Why it matters

Commercialised at the end of 2018 the sweetener was specifically created for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

With its low cost and zero caloric value, the sweetener is hoped to be used in the health industry to assist Australia’s current obesity and diabetes epidemic.

Ask the expert:

Katharina Pueller,  Director of SweeGen

“BESTEVIA e+ shows great success in reducing sugar and artificial sweeteners in many applications, such as beverage, dairy, sports nutrition, condiments and bakeries.”

“BESTEVIA e+ provides a clean, sugar-like taste at a price equivalent to sugar.”

The Details:

SweeGen, a California-based sweetener company, seeks to develop and produce non-caloric and non-GMO sweeteners for the food, flavour and beverage industries.

Palliative Care to Trial Synthetic Psychedelic

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How it works:

The trial will aim to give terminally ill patients a new perspective on their lives, during the final stage.

The administration will have to be guided by the hospital psychiatrist, under the guidelines of removing fear and depression from a dying patient.

Ask the expert:

Dr Margaret Ross, Clinical Psychologist at St Vincents Hospital.

“The studies would see patients given a single dose of psilocybin, which is so powerful it can unlock a section of a patient’s brains to give them an altered outlook on their situation approaching death.”

The details:

The trial has taken more than a year to gain approval by ethics committees as well as federal and state authorities

Australia’s Dementia Home Care Packages Program Waiting Time Blowout

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How it works

Home Care Packages (HCP) are one of the ways that older Australians can access affordable care services to get some help at home. They are designed for those with more complex care needs that go beyond what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can provide.

Funding for assistance includes:

  • Help with showering, self-care, hygiene and grooming
  • Wound management or help with medicines
  • Health and therapy services e.g. podiatry, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy
  • Help for people with a particular condition e.g. vision, dementia
  • Help with feeding, meal preparation, and using eating utensils
  • Basic chores around the house
  • Keeping home and garden safe
  • Changes to your home to improve safety and access e.g. ramps and rails
  • Items to help you get around or adapt e.g. walking frame, shower chair
  • Services that allow me to interact with my community
  • Community transport, transport to GP
  • Social activities in a community-based group setting or accompanied activities

Facts and figures:

According to the Home Care Packages Program Report released this month, the waiting list has increased by 1290 people, with over 75,000 people still waiting for an appropriate level of home care.

An estimated 447,000 people have dementia in Australia.

This number is projected to reach almost 1.1 million by 2058.

Ask the expert:

Maree McCabe Dementia Australia CEO:

“The consequences of a lack of support are devastating and far-reaching – severely impairing the quality of life for the person living with dementia and their loved ones who often stop or change their own lives to become a primary carer.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt Delivers Federal Funding for New Cancer Centre

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Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Federal Minister for Health

“This agreement gives The Bays the ability to continue their development of world-class treatment and research facilities, for the benefit of the local community.”

“Funding encompassing radiation oncology, clinical trials laboratory, consulting suites, and meeting education and support areas for patients affected by cancer, will help The Bays continue to save lives and protect lives.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Muhammad Alamgeer Consulting Medical Oncologist for The Bays Healthcare Group

“The real revolution of cancer care since the discovery of chemotherapy has been the practice of personalised care, which means matching the latest treatments to individual patient characteristics.  At the new comprehensive cancer centre at The Bays, we will deliver high-quality personalised care.”

Research Reveals Alarming New Measles Trend

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How it works:

Australia has done such a good job at eliminating measles, people who have had only one vaccine aren’t getting a natural immunity boost as the disease isn’t circulating in the community.

While these cases were hospitalised, the symptoms weren’t considered ‘classic measles’ – patients weren’t reporting fever, cough and runny nose, but they did have a rash.

Ask the expert:

Dr Katherine Gibney, an epidemiologist Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

“Normally, if people have documented receiving two doses of the measles vaccine we would be confident they won’t contract measles, but that’s getting greyer – this research has demonstrated some vaccinated people are getting measles.”

“Anyone who is unsure if they have had two doses of measles vaccine should see their doctor about getting an additional dose. In particular, adults born after 1965 might not have received two doses of measles vaccine during their routine childhood immunisation.”

Dr Lisa Walker from the Royal Melbourne Hospital Awarded Top Prize

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How it works:

During their last year of specialist Emergency Medicine training, doctors must complete a final oral and written exam. Every exam, the highest scoring candidate from among hundreds across Australia and New Zealand, is awarded The Buchanan Prize.

Ask the expert:

Dr Alex Paspaliaris, who won the prize in 2001

“The Australasian Emergency Medicine training program is one of the hardest and most highly recognised in the world.”

Study Finds Majority of Australians Don’t Understand Private Health and Tax

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Facts and figures:

64% of Australians don’t understand what the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is.

39% are confused the MLS with the Medicare Levy paid by all taxpayers.

36% of Australians correctly understand that the MLS is an additional tax paid by higher income earners who don’t have private hospital cover.

Ask the expert:

Laura Crowden, spokesperson for iSelect:

“If you earn more than $90,000 a year and don’t have private hospital cover by June 30, then you will have to pay a minimum $900 in extra tax next financial year due to the MLS.”

“Exactly how much extra tax you’ll pay depends on how much you earn and for most higher income earners, taking out a basic hospital policy will generally cost less than paying the extra tax via the MLS.”

The details:

The YouGov Galaxy Research study was commissioned by the private health insurer iSelect.

Aboriginal HPV Vaccination Rates On The Rise

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Facts and figures:

The study published in the Medical Journal of Australia has found Aboriginal students in NSW are achieving their first dose of the HPV vaccine at equal or higher rates than non-Aboriginal students.

Coverage is higher among Aboriginal females than non-Aboriginal females in NSW, with a rate of 95.9% and 89.9%, respectively. The rate for males is 85.6% and 86.0%.

HPV vaccination is a safe and effective method to prevent infection and disease due to the targeted HPV types that cause cervical cancer (almost all cases) and cancers of the anus (90%), vagina (65%), oropharyngeal area (60%), vulva (50%) and penis (35%).

Ask the expert:

Dr Vicky Sheppeard NSW Health’s Director of Communicable Diseases

“The HPV vaccination is particularly important for Aboriginal women to prevent cervical cancer as, compared to other Australian women, they have twice the incidence and four times a greater mortality rate from cervical cancer.”

The details:

Protecting children from potentially deadly diseases is a key priority for the NSW Government, which has invested approximately $130 million in the 2018-19 Immunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.
To find out more go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal/Pages/default.aspx​​