Posts tagged as:

policy

Australia’s National Medicines Policy

by Robbo on June 13, 2010

in Equity of Access,policy,Remote health,S100

In 1986 the 39th World Health Assembly adopted the “Revised Drug Strategy” produced by experts on the rational use of drugs a year earlier. Part of this strategy called on nations to implement a National Medicinal Drug Policy.

A number of policies were developed and implemented culminating in the National Medicine Policy that was launched in 1999.

The aim of the policy is to “improve positive health outcomes for all Australians through their access to and wise use of medicines.”

The National Medicines Policy (NMP) is based on four central objectives:

* Timely access to the medicines that Australians need, at a cost individuals and the community can afford; (an example of this is Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)

* Medicines meeting appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy;

* Quality use of medicines; (National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines (QUM))

* Maintaining a responsible and viable medicines industry;

The National Medicines Policy is the overarching framework on how we handle medications in Australia. Within this broad and far reaching policy statement is a paragraph focusing on Indigenous Health

In particular, there are substantial access barriers and evidence of under use of medicines by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Partnership commitments to address the issues (eg Framework Agreements on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health) are required.

In June 2009 the NMP executive and committee hosted the inaugural Partnerships Forum with over 100 invited “stakeholders”. As well as an opportunity for the Executive and Committee to outline priorities and discuss the challenges and opportunities created it also sought stakeholders (I hate that word) input. Outcomes from the forum are to assist the the Executive and the Committee to identify future priorities which are then presented to the Minister for Health and Ageing who I suppose then does something with it.

Peppered throughout the document are references to the importance of access to medicines and the rational use of these medicines. Despite the Section 100 Medicine Supply Arrangements for Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services program allowing free supply of medications to remote communities An Indigenous Australian with a much higher disease burden still only receives 58% of the total PBS benefits paid be other Australian ($168.2 to $288.2)

I’ve been invited to the next forum (30th June 2010 in Sydney) as apparently I know a bit about Indigenous and Remote Health and access to medications. Hopefully I’ll be able to write something about it in July.

Tagged as: Indigenous Aboriginal, National Medicines Policy, policy, QUM, S100, Section 100

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Kiwirrkurra Flood Documentary Project on NITV

by Robbo on February 16, 2010

in Indigenous,Remote health

A while ago I wrote about the Kiwirrkurra Flood Documentary Project

For those lucky enough to receive NITV (National Indigenous TV) it will be on Saturday evening 20th Feb 8pm AEST.

kiwirrkurra-flood

In March 2001, the isolated community of Kiwirrkurra, located 1200 km to the east of Port Headland and 750 km west of Alice Springs, was inundated with floodwaters. The floodwaters caused essential services to fail, putting people’s health and safety at risk.

All 170 residents were evacuated, first to the neighbouring community of Kintore, then on to the Alice Springs Norforce Army base. Later the community were transferred to Morapoi in the Goldfields of Western Australia, before returning to their lands and community eighteen months later.

The resultant cultural and community disruption was profound, and there are important lessons for emergency managers and coordinating agencies in working with Indigenous communities to be learned from their experiences.

Tagged as: disaster planning, EMA, emergency, FESA, fire, kiwirrkurra, policy

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Indigenous News Update

by Robbo on March 17, 2009

in Indigenous News

AUSTRALIA could reverse its position on a United Nations charter of indigenous rights http://bit.ly/cUZlG

Inside Story article exploring if media is part of the aboriginal health problem http://bit.ly/IVuv

Follow up on Croakey asks for good news stories in indigenous health http://bit.ly/Wwm2P

Are journalists interested in building relationships with Aboriginal people and organisations? http://bit.ly/EwXyq

Is the view that traditional culture and lifestyles is a hindrance to the achievement of “mainstream” economic goals.? http://bit.ly/7LibV

Government education policies lock Aboriginal people out of real economy http://bit.ly/4S43j – I agree. Remote are treated appallingly

I read a large amount of information each week on indigenous health and affairs. There is no way I can blog about it all. Many of the links I place on Twitter where I can be found as @BiteTheDust.

I will regularly compile these links and place on the blog under the category of Indigenous News Update.

If you like this post and what else you see on the blog please subscribe by RSS feed (the orange button) or by email. The email subscription is just under my profile picture. Or you can visit my subscription page.

Tagged as: aboriginal, charter, culture, government, Indigenous, policy, rights, United Nations

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Kiwirrkurra Flood Documentary Project

by Robbo on February 4, 2009

in Indigenous,Remote health,Remote Living

In March 2001, the isolated community of Kiwirrkurra, located 1200 km to the east of Port Headland and 750 km west of Alice Springs, was inundated with floodwaters. The floodwaters caused essential services to fail, putting people’s health and safety at risk.

All 170 residents were evacuated, first to the neighbouring community of Kintore, then on to the Alice Springs Norforce Army base. Later the community were transferred to Morapoi in the Goldfields of Western Australia, before returning to their lands and community eighteen months later.
kiwirrkurra-flood
The resultant cultural and community disruption was profound, and there are important lessons for emergency managers and coordinating agencies in working with Indigenous communities to be learned from their experiences.

Emergency Management Australia, in conjunction with the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, WA is producing a documentary and supporting visual and audio materials to capture and disseminate the lessons learned from the evacuation of the community.

This is one article in the first Newsletter of the Remote Indigenous Communities Advisory Committee. RICAC is a subcommittee of the Australian Emergency Management Committee. This newsletter is provided twice a year to update remote communities and the emergency services sector on what is happening at RICAC.

The complete newsletter (pdf) can be found here. It covers everything from policy to you-beaut fire trailers and burns statistics for the NT population.