ADAVB submission re National Safety and Quality Framework

The ADAVB has lodged its latest submission in response to the National Safety and Quality Framework proposed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC).

Their website about this initiative states that the Framework "is designed to guide action to improve the safety and quality of the care provided in all health care settings over the next decade." (emphasis added)

"The proposed framework would:

• Be used as the basis of strategic and operational safety and quality plans;
• Provide a mechanism for refocusing current quality improvement activities, reviewing investments for safety and quality and designing goals for health service improvement; and
• Promote discussion with consumers, clinicians, managers, researchers and policy makers about how they might best contribute to safety and quality improvement."

In general the ADAVB considers the Framework to be quite reasonable, with sound concepts and ideas. A few points in the ACSQHC Discussion Paper have raised concerns, and these are informed by the view that office-based practice cannot be asked to meet the same standards as acute facilities or community health centres, with their access to extra administrative personnel to address red tape requirements.

Some points we have argued against, while we believe that other issues raised by the Framework lend strong support to our arguments against certain reforms being advocated in other places e.g. the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission and the National Health Workforce Taskforce.

Ethical Promotion of Therapeutic Goods

The Therapeutic Goods Administration will meet with all therapeutic industry associations next week to discuss their restrictive codes of conduct and consider ways to ensure that self-regulation retains public and Government confidence.

The meeting has been called following recent media reports claiming that incentives are being offered to promote the sales of certain medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Whilst the Therapeutic Goods Act regulates advertisements for therapeutic goods, the professional relationship between companies and healthcare practitioners is governed by industry and professional codes of conduct.

National Preventative Health Strategy Launched

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon launched the National Preventative Health Strategy after a visit to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne today.

The Taskforce responsible for the Strategy has made several findings, set a number of what it describes as 'ambitious' targets, and made 35 recommendations and 139 sub-recommendations.

The Government will consider the Taskforce's recommendations alongside those of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Some of the recommendations, such as the establishment of a National Preventative Health Agency, are already in train.

The Strategy identifies seven strategic directions to ensure a comprehensive approach:
1. Shared responsibility - developing strategic partnerships - at all levels of government, industry, business, unions and the non-government sector, research institutions and communities;
2. Act early and throughout life - working with individuals, families and communities;
3. Engage communities - act and engage with people where they live, work and play; at home, in schools, workplaces and the community. Inform, enable and support people to make healthy choices;
4. Influence markets and develop coherent policies - for example through taxation, responsive legislation, and through coherent and connected policies;
5. Reduce inequality through targeting disadvantage - especially low socio-economic status (SES) groups;
6. Indigenous Australians - contribute to Closing the Gap; and
7. Refocus primary healthcare towards prevention

The action proposal likely to be of greatest interest to the dental community is for a review of economic policies and taxation systems, and development of methods of using taxation, grants, pricing incentives and subsidies to:

• promote the production of healthier food products, including reformulation of existing products;
  
• increase the consumption of healthier food and beverage products;
  
• decrease production, promotion and consumption of unhealthy food and beverage products; and
  
• promote healthy weight.

A soft drink tax could generate wide support amongst those seeking to reduce dental decay rates.