Australian Medical Association

The AMA strongly supports DonateLife Week and the work of the Government and the Organ and Tissue Authority to generate greater awareness and understanding of organ and tissue donation in the community.

AMA Vice President, Professor Geoffrey Dobb, said today that Australia’s organ donation rate is increasing, with Australia achieving its highest donation rate last year, but more hard work and education is needed to build on this success.

MJA release - Australia needs to implement world’s best practice in reducing exposure to cancer-causing agents to reduce the toll of work-related cancers, according to an article published in the February 20 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

MJA release - Violence and aggression pose significant problems in hospitals, but a formal aggression management system can help, according to a study published the February 20 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

MJA release - Almost 40% of people in the community with extensive atherothrombotic disease will suffer a cardiovascular event within a year, according to research published the February 20 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

MJA release - A 26-year-old Adelaide woman contracted a potentially fatal illness after close contact with her pet rats, and the disease could become more common as rodent ownership rises, according to a case report published the February 20 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

MJA release -Australia could save hundreds of millions of dollars in PBS subsidies if generic medicines were prescribed more often and the system for pricing them was improved, according to an editorial published in the 20 February issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

MJA release - A quarter of secondary school students are overweight or obese, and lifestyle and socioeconomic status are implicated, according to research published in the 20 February issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that, should the Government succeed in getting its private health insurance means test changes through the Parliament, all savings should be ploughed back into the health system.

Dr Hambleton said that the extra funding would assist cover existing need in the system and help compensate the public hospital system for any extra demand that may occur as a result of the changes.

AMA Federal Budget Submission 2012-13 - The AMA is calling on the Federal Government to use the May Budget to strengthen the ‘pillars’ of the Australian health system at a time when the world is entering a phase of economic uncertainty.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that in hard times it is important for governments to strengthen those parts of the health system that will provide the greatest benefit to patients and the community.

“There is every indication that this will be a frugal Budget across the board, but health funding must not go backwards,” Dr Hambleton said.

“The ‘pillars’ of the health system – the parts that work well and which patients and communities rely on – must be recognised and funded accordingly in the Budget,” Dr Hambleton said.

The AMA welcomes the Government’s acknowledgement that May Budget cuts to mental health services are hurting patients but its decision not to reverse cuts to Medicare funding for GP mental health services is disappointing.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the Government has failed to address the fact that the Budget cuts to Medicare rebates for general practice mental health services are having a detrimental impact on patients.