HEALTHMonitor produced by Media Monitors ACT Pty Ltd distributed by Health Communication Network Limited Issue No.1016, Friday, August 06, 1999 PRINT MEDIA SUMMARY THE AUSTRALIAN John Kerin p2 States to push for separate health test. The Federal Government has rejected the States and Territories� call for a Productivity Commission review of the health system, and the States and Territories are now threatening to launch their own inquiry. (HM060800) Rosemary Neill p15 Roll them, but don�t inhale them. There appears to be a growing trend for politicians to reveal that they have smoked marijuana. (HM060801) Stephen Romei p13 Tots face idiot-box blackout. Article discusses and John the proposal by the American Academy of Stapleton Paediatrics to ban television for children under two years of age. (HM060802) Andrew Dodd p5 Aunty raises alarm after cancer spate. The ABC is investigating the increasing number of soft-tissue cancers which have been reported by workers at its Melbourne Southbank complex after concerns were raised by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance. (HM040803) Belinda Hickman p1 Grow your own heart muscle: hope of transplant alternative. A team of researchers at Sydney�s Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute yesterday announced the discovery of a gene which they believe could be placed into patients heart-muscle cells as a way of making them stronger, and therefore creating an alternative to heart transplants. (HM060804) 24 Gutnick health deal. Autogen has secured a deal with Flinders University to investigate the treatment of hay fever and the diagnosis of lung cancer. (HM060805) Graeme Leech p13 Monkeying around with nuts. Australia�s health and trade ministers have apparently approved a doubling of the allowable amount of poisonous metal cadmium that is allowed in peanuts. (HM060806) THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD Kate Crawford p24 Medicine to beam far into China. Australian communications company Global Vision will launch a $5 million interactive virtual medical school in China with the first phase expected to start in October this year. (HM060807) THE AGE Gabrielle Costa pA10 Brack�s nationwide tipping bid. Vic Opposition Leader Steve Bracks has proposed a tipping pool for AFL to raise money for health and sport initiatives. (HM060808) pA10 Aboriginal babies more likely to die. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare claims indigenous babies are at double the risk of dying at birth than other babies. (HM060809) Stephen Cauchi pA5 Girl, 9, wins $3.25m over birth mishap. A bungled birth delivery for nine year-old Maree Stamatakis has been acknowledged by the Monash Medical Centre with an out-of-court settlement of $3.25 million. (HM060810) THE CANBERRA TIMES Rada Rouse p6 The ideal after-dinner snack: cheesepaste. Dentists claim people should finish their meals with cheese because it helps clean the teeth. (HM060811) p7 Ultrasound expert plays down threat. There is concern that women will use ultrasound records to sue doctors who fail to pick up abnormalities during pregnancy. (HM060812) Catriona Jackson p1 Cut in Aboriginal arrests would end their jobless �vicious cycle�. NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research researchers have concluded that the high rate of arrest of Aborigines is a major factor in their high rate of unemployment. (HM060813) p7 National footie tipping pool: Victorian plan. Vic Opposition Leader Steve Bracks has proposed a tipping pool for AFL to raise money for health and sport initiatives. (HM060814) p3 Doctors reject MBF plan for full �gap� cover. A new medical plan which emulates that of the US has been condemned by doctors who say it will lead to rationing of health cover, while MBF spokesperson David Jones say it will meet the needs of the vast majority of health fund members. (HM060815) Catriona Jackson p1 Food suppliers get green light to irradiate. A 10 year moratorium will be lifted on the sale of irradiated foods, however, producers will be required to obey strict labelling procedures. (HM060816) Peter Clack p3 Rugendyke cannabis �backward step�. A proposed Drugs of Dependence Amendment Bill by ACT MLA Dave Rugendyke has been unsuccessful with ACT Justice Minister Gary Humphries saying it would merely clog the courts with minor cases. (HM060817) THE WEST AUSTRALIAN p8 Emergency patients sleep in corridors. Emergency patients at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital have again been forced to sleep in corridors. (HM060818) Francesca Hodge p8 Care comes first: health boss. Article profiles new WA Metropolitan Health Service head Andrew Weeks. (HM060819) Mairi Barton p31 Police gain respect, nurses top poll. A Morgan Poll survey shows nursing and pharmacy are Australia�s most respected professions. (HM060820) p8 Foreign doctor change praised. The WA Rural Doctors Association has welcomed a push for less stringent entry criteria for overseas-trained doctors prepared to work in rural areas. (HM060821) Lindsay Murdoch p18 Indonesia blacklists humanitarian doctor. A US doctor who has criticised militia violence against East Timorese villagers has been refused entry to Indonesia. (HM060822) THE COURIER MAIL Sean Parnell p3 MBF in push to sign up doctors. Health insurer MBF plans to call for tenders from private hospitals for services fully covered by insurance. (HM060823) p12 In sickness and in health. Australian researchers are investigating a link between breast cancer and substances which form in cooked meat. (HM060824) ADELAIDE ADVERTISER Belinda Huppatz p6 Victory to the people. The SA Parliament has and Huw Morgan ruled in favour of the community of Mt Barker who complained of the toxic fumes they were forced to endure from a Mt Barker foundry, forcing the foundry to cease melting operations. (HM060825) David Eccles p6 New CEO cuts her teeth on bed closures. Flinders Medical centre chief executive officer Julia Davidson has admitted the medical centre is under severe pressure after a funding cut of $5 million, saying the decision to close 30 beds will increase pressure on the hospital�s emergency department. (HM060826) Bronwyn Hurrel p11 Doctors� legal fears over baby scans. Article discusses the implications of the use of ultrasound pictures in medical lawsuits with doctor Lachlan de Crespigny suggesting ultrasound�s undergone by 98 per cent of pregnant women at 18 to 20 weeks could be taken up in court at a later stage. (HM060827) Kate Hannon p15 Home-style aged care our next export. The Australian aged care system could benefit from the added funds of Japanese retiree�s who have specified a preference for the Australian system of aged care. (HM060828) THE HERALD SUN Fran Cusworth p12 PM launches push for rural doctors. Prime Minister and Tom Carey John Howard yesterday said attracting doctors to rural areas was a major challenge for the Federal Government. Howard was speaking at the opening of Melbourne University�s Rural Health Department in Shepparton Vic. (HM060829) Ron Reed p19 Chasing the cheats. Article discusses the issue of drugs in sport at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. (HM060830) Ashley Gardiner p30 Screen aid for seriously ill. Dame Elizabeth Murdoch yesterday launched the Speaking from Experience that features people with chronic illnesses talking about their lives. (HM060831) Miranda p37 CSL chief wraps up healthy gain. Biotechnology McLachlan group CSL has launched a revolutionary new blood- staunching bandage deal with the American Red Cross, that will assist the development of a fibrin- sealer bandage and its blood-derived components. (HM060832) THE DAILY TELEGRAPH Cindy Wockner p1 Feral Friday. A man has died after drinking to a level that gave him a blood alcohol reading of 0.417. (HM060833) Simon Benson and p17 DDT levels increasing in breast milk. Research has Kate Minogue revealed a banned DDT-related pesticide, that passes into breast milk, is still being sprayed on at least 40 primary foods. (HM060834) Kate Minogue p17 Natural is best for this mum. Article profiles a woman who has chosen to breast-feed her child despite concerns raised by a doctor that toxins in breast milk could lower the IQ of the child. (HM060835) p17 Radiation death letter scare. A number of bogus letters have been distributed claiming three people have died of radiation exposure from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor. (HM060836) p24 Age care market opens. Federal Aged Care Minister Bronwyn Bishop has announced that the Japanese Government has expressed interest in Australia�s system of aged care. (HM060837) MAJOR MEDIA RELEASES The National Farmers� Health Ministers Make Promising Progress on Rural Federation Doctor Crisis. The National Farmers� Federation has welcomed the decision by Australia�s Health Ministers to tackle the medical crisis facing country Australians. (HM060838) Australian Democrats Democrats Call for Simple & Fast Gene Food Consumer Affairs Labelling. Australian Democrats Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Natasha Spokesperson Natasha Stott Despoja has welcomed Stott Despoja the Health Ministers� decision to support the mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods. (HM060839) Shadow Defence Medic...I Need a Medic. Shadow Defence Minister Minister Stephen Stephen Martin says a shortage of specialist Martin medical personnel has compromised the Defence Force�s ability to deploy to East Timor. (HM060840) Federal Education, New Training Package for Community Services Training and Youth Workers. Federal Education, Training and Youth Affairs Minister Affairs Minister David Kemp has launched a new David Kemp National Training Package for community services workers. (HM060841) Federal Family and Clearing House. Federal Family and Community Community Services Services Minister Jocelyn Newman has announced Minister Jocelyn that the Federal Government will provide $1 Newman million to establish a National Clearinghouse on Domestic and Family Violence. (HM0608) Federal Family and Homeless win Bipartisan National Support. Federal Community Services Family and Community Services Minister Jocelyn Minister Jocelyn Newman has welcomed the State and Territory Newman Ministers� in-principle endorsement of the future directions of the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. (HM060842) Commonwealth, State Communique. Commonwealth, State and Territory and Territory Community Services Ministers have endorsed in Community Services principle a Memorandum of Understanding on the Ministers future directions of the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program 2000-2005. (HM060843) The Australian Health Ministers Push for More Coordinated Care Trials. Ministers The Australian Health Ministers have agreed to taking the coordinated care trials further following an evaluation of the initial trial. (HM060844) The Australian Health Ministers Unite to Get More Doctors into the Bush. Ministers The Australian Health Ministers have agreed to a streamlined recruiting approach for overseas- trained General Practitioners. (HM060845) Australian Health New National Council Will Oversee Safety and Ministers Quality in Australia�s Health Care System. Australian Health Ministers have announced the establishment of a new Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, to improve Australia�s health care system. (HM060846) Australian Health Health Ministers Agree to New Blood Screening Ministers Test. Australian Health Ministers have agreed to fund the implementation of a newly developed test that more accurately screens blood donations for HIV and hepatitis C. (HM060847) Federal Shadow Health Health Minister Fails to act on Hospital Funding. Minister Jenny Shadow Health Minister Jenny Macklin has Macklin criticised the Government for denying the States indexation of hospital funding. (HM060848) The Australian MBF Charging Down Path to Managed Care. The Medical Association Australian Medical Association has accused health insurance company MBF of taking the path towards managed care with its no gap insurance products. (HM060849) MBF MBF Initiative for Member Access to quality Healthcare and Financial Certainty. MBF has announced it will conduct an open competitive tender seeking bids from hospitals and day surgeries to provide health services for the 1.3 million Australians covered by the fund. (HM060850) RMIT University�s Patients� Consent Rights Neglected, Says RMIT Professor of Nursing, Ethics Expert. RMIT University�s Professor of Megan-Jane Johnstone Nursing, Megan-Jane Johnstone has released the third edition of her text Bioethics: a Nursing Perspective. (HM060851) Federal Transport and More Doctors for the Bush Another Step Closer. Regional Services Federal Transport and Regional Services Minister Minister John John Anderson has welcomed the Health Ministers� Anderson decision to streamline recruiting processes for foreign trained doctors. (HM060852) ELECTRONIC MEDIA SUMMARY 5/8 2CN 1700 Report dismissed. The Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out the Productivity Commission�s report into health services, with SA Premier John Olsen demanding a further meeting to discuss health issues. Australian Democrats Leader Meg Lees has begun talks with Howard about protection for workers� superannuation entitlements after a company has been liquidated. (Dur: 5.00) (HM060853) 5/8 2RN 0900 Funding for services. Federal Family and Community Services Minister Jocelyn Newman has announced an extra $150 million in Government funds to be directed to services for the disabled, leading some groups to claim the amount offered to be inadequate. Intv: Phillip French, executive officer, People with Disabilities. (Dur: 9.30) (HM060854) 5/8 2RN 0600 Heart disease and coffee consumption. Nine Wells Hospital cardiovascular epidemiology director Dunstall Padoe discusses new research which shows that high coffee consumption lowers the risk of heart disease and death. The results contradict recent research which shows that drinking tea is healthier than drinking coffee. Intv: Hugh Dunstall Padoe, director, cardiovascular epidemiology unit, Nine Wells Hospital, Scotland. (HM060855) OTHER PRINT ARTICLES 6/8 Australian $3.25m damages p4 6/8 Sydney Patients take heart from new muscle p2 Morning Herald 6/8 Sydney Pub fined $20,000 after drinker dies p3 Morning Herald 6/8 The Age Premiers condemn health snub pA3 6/8 The Age Labor is right on drugs policy (Editorial) pA14 6/8 The Age Girl, 9, gets $3.25 million pA1 6/8 The Age Legal caution on baby scans pA4 6/8 Canberra Gene treatment could replace heart transplants p1 Times 6/8 Courier Mail Heart strength p3 6/8 Adelaide States called to summit on health p6 Advertiser 6/8 Adelaide Plunge into gap-free insurance p2 Advertiser 6/8 Adelaide Partial premium (Letters to the Editor) p16 Advertiser 6/8 Daily Doctors to block no gap plan p22 Telegraph 6/8 Daily Genes to grow back the heart p7 Telegraph 6/8 Daily A legacy of hope (Editorial) p10 Telegraph 6/8 Herald Sun $3m for birth trauma p3 6/8 Herald Sun Gene may fix sick hearts p4 6/8 Herald Sun Baby death alert p27 5/8 Newcastle Doctors fear cuts at Mater p3 Herald 4/8 NT News Have a heart: reduce life�s risks p16 HEALTHMonitor is produced by Lynda McMinn and Mitch Ratajkoski Transcripts, clippings, video and audio tapes, further information. 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