Category: News

First Human Drug To Be Completely Designed by Artificial Intelligence

Posted on | by Staff Writer

Why it matters:

Although computers have been used in the past to help in drug design, this vaccine technology was independently designed by an AI program called SAM (Search Algorithm for Ligands), created by the Flinders University team.

How it works:

The algorithm generates trillions of theoretical drugs before creating a shortlist that can then be tested in a laboratory.

Ask the expert:

Nikolai Petrovsky Professor at Flinder Univerisity

“This represents the start of a new era where artificial intelligence is going to play an increasingly dominant role in drug discovery and design.”

Leaving Defence Force Personnel to Receive Free Health Checks

Posted on | by Staff Writer

Facts and figures:

The Australian Government provides more than $230 million a year towards veteran mental health.

This is part of more than $11 billion for veterans and their families in this year’s budget.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Federal Minister for Health

“These health checks are specifically designed for veterans and allows them to keep on top of their health after they leave the ADF.”

“The Veteran Health Check allows a veteran and their GP to act on any issues before they become major problems and for the GP to assess their patient’s current physical and mental wellbeing.”

The details:

Australian Defence Force members who transitioned before 30 June 2019, will continue to be able to gain access to the comprehensive One-off Veteran Health Check (formerly known as the one-off ADF Post-Discharge GP Health Assessment) at any time post-transition.

HIV Infection Rates Reported Lowest In Almost Two Decades

Posted on | by Staff Writer

Facts and figures:

The Kirby Institute Report confirmed 835 HIV diagnoses across Australia in 2018.

This represents a decline in new diagnoses of 23 per cent in the past five years and this is the lowest number of new diagnoses since 2001.

The largest decline in HIV diagnoses has been seen in homosexual men, which has declined by 30 per cent in the past five years.

How it works:

Australia’s National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy is supported by an investment of $45.4 million in the 2019 budget.

The strategy aims to reduce the impact of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including HIV.

Key initiatives include:

  • Listing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention on the PBS
  • Including additional HIV treatment medicines
  • Ensuring the broadest possible access to new direct-acting antiviral treatments for hepatitis C

In addition, $5 million will be invested over two years and will provide support to national peak organisations to assist in implementing these initiatives.

Government to Accept Recommendations of Stillbirth Research and Education Report

Posted on | by Staff Writer

Key points:

The accepted recommendations include:

  • Developing a National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan
  • Investing in stillbirth research
  • Developing best practice and culturally appropriate resources
  • Working with States and Territories to make improvements in key areas including improving national perinatal mortality data collections, improving access to publicly-funded stillbirth autopsies, building the perinatal pathology workforce, developing more culturally and linguistically appropriate models of care, bereavement support and protocols for public hospitals and community health services.

Facts and figures:

In Australia, about 6 babies are stillborn every day and 2 die in the neonatal period (within 28 days of birth), with congenital anomaly accounting for almost a third of all perinatal deaths.

Rates of perinatal death have remained relatively constant since 1997.

Whilst the rates of perinatal death of babies born to Indigenous women have been decreasing, the rate is still higher than compared to babies of non-Indigenous women.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Minister for Health

“Reducing the rate of stillbirth in Australia, including providing the best possible support services for families living with the tragedy of stillbirth, is a Morrison Government health and wellbeing priority.”

“We understand the importance of this issue not only for the women affected, but for their partners, families and the broader community.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Fadwa Al-Yaman, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) spokesperson.

“Ongoing monitoring of perinatal deaths could help build the evidence base to drive better outcomes and that the AIHW was also working on improving the quality of data around contributory factors.”

“The report provides valuable information to enable effective policy, practice and services for mothers and babies.”

The details:

The full response will be available once formally tabled in the Senate at www.health.gov.au

Report Finds Correlation Between Multiple GPs and Reduced Shared Patient Information

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Facts and figures:

People with no usual GP were three times as likely as those who had a usual GP to report that their usual place of care did not seem informed about their most recent specialist visit.

They were also twice as likely to report that their usual place of care did not seem informed about their follow-up needs or medication changes following a visit to the emergency department.

Ask the expert:

Richard Juckes AIHW spokesperson

“The sharing of health information between health professionals and across care settings is an essential component of health-care management and continuity of care.”

 “Having access to complete information about a patient’s health history enables providers to deliver care that is appropriate, current, and meets a patient’s needs.”

The details:

The report is the second in the AIHW’s coordination of health care series.

The first report, Coordination of health care: experiences with GP care among patients aged 45 and over 2016, looked at ongoing relationships between patients and their usual GP or place of care.

Victorian Government to Change Discriminatory IVF Policy and Practice

Posted on | by Staff Writer

How it works:

  • Change legislation to ensure same-sex female couples are recognised as one family. Allowing same-sex couples to use donated sperm and eggs or embryo, removing discrimination and increasing the chances of being able to have biologically-related siblings by using the one donor.
  • Undertake further consultation on removing the discriminatory requirement that Victorians hoping to grow their family with IVF must first undergo police and child protection checks, which can cause long delays.
  • Ensure more Victorians can become a parent through IVF, without the high costs, with public IVF services – bulk billed and subsidised for low-income Victorians.
  • Improve quality and safety by investigating reports of rogue practitioners who put patients at risk or peddle false hope about their chances of conception.

Ask the Minister:

Jenny Mikakos Victorian Minister for Health

“We know that while IVF can be a life-changing experience for many families, it can also be an emotional and financial rollercoaster. That’s why this once-in-a-generation review was so important.”

“We’re removing unfair hurdles faced by too many families and making IVF easier and more affordable to access – it will mean the world to thousands of Victorian families.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Sue Matthews Chief Executive of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria

“We welcome the report’s recognition that current regulation is not fit-for-purpose and are pleased to be playing our role in creating equitable access to IVF.”

“An important factor will be getting the structures and mechanisms right, including setting up appropriate governance and funding arrangements.”

The details:

The changes are in response to the findings of the landmark report commissioned in 2018.

The full report can be viewed at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/patient-care/perinatal-reproductive/assisted-reproduction/regulatory-review

Australian World First Surgical Robot

Posted on | by Staff Writer

How it works:

The project aims to design snake-like robots as miniaturised and highly dexterous surgical tools.

The robotic bodies will be fitted with computer vision capabilities and have the ability to navigate around obstacles in confined spaces such as the anatomy of the human body.

Ask the expert:

Ross Crawford, Medical and Healthcare Robotics Group Project Leader

“At the moment surgeons use what is best described as rigid ‘one-size-fits-all’ tools for surgical procedures, even though patients and their anatomy can vary significantly.”

“The surgical system being explored has the potential to vastly surpass capabilities of current state-of-the-art surgical tools.”

The details:

More information can be found in the latest annual report at https://www.roboticvision.org/wp-content/uploads/Australian-Centre-for-Robotic-Vision_2018-Annual-Report_Spreads.pdf

NSW Health On-Line Vaccine Care Training Module

Posted on | by Staff Writer

How it works:

All General Practitioners must ensure at least one staff member has taken the NSW Health on-line vaccine care training module.

NSW Health will be working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Council of NSW, and the Primary Health Networks to assist in reminding GPs of their vaccine care obligations.

Why it matters:

The Medical Council of NSW and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission are investigating and responding to incidents of patients that have been vaccinated with improperly kept vaccines.

Ask the expert:

Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Medical Officer

“While NSW Health does not have responsibility for GPs, we are working with GPs and assisting co-regulators to ensure patients are correctly and effectively vaccinated.”

“Vaccines need to be stored at an optimal temperature range to ensure patients are protected from illness such as the flu, measles, or meningococcal disease.”

The details:

The free vaccine cold chain management online learning module is available at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/cold-chain-management.aspx

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health to Receive Boost in Funding

Posted on | by Staff Writer

How it works:

The funding will be distributed between six projects with the aim of supporting practical and innovative research into the best approaches to prevention, early intervention, and treatment of health conditions of greatest concern to ageing Indigenous communities.

The projects are:

Researcher Application Title Administering Institution Budget
Associate Professor Kim Delbaere Standing Tall-with our Mob: A holistic approach towards active and healthy ageing. University of New South Wales $  990,165.20
Associate Professor Edward Strivens A framework for health ageing in the Torres Strait James Cook University $1,100,540.00
Professor David Currow Exploring Healthy Ageing amongst Aboriginal Australians through the window of cancer The Sax Institute $1,167,301.20
Professor Leon Flicker Defining and predicting Healthy Ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Populations (HATS) University of Western Australia $  931,119.40
Professor Alex Brown Designing Indigenous aged care with a ‘whole of community’ perspective. University of South Australia $  741,947.30
Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher Improving implementation of Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in mainstream practice: a cluster randomised controlled trial. The University of Newcastle $  745,056.50

Why it matters:

Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have poorer health outcomes and higher rates of disability than non-Indigenous Australians of the same age.

They are also more likely to live with chronic and complex conditions that lead to a poorer quality of life and to die at a younger age.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt, Minister for Health

“Our government has a long-standing and important commitment to achieving health equity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

“The Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.”

Prosthesis Program Bringing New Hope to Amputees

Posted on | by Staff Writer

How it works:

The TMR Program, allows the patient’s brain to directly control a specially engineered prosthetic limb through a process of surgery, rehabilitation, and brain training.

Patients must commit to an extensive virtual training program helping them achieve strong and consistent control of their new prosthetic, along with a home exercise program that takes for up to 30 minutes, four times a day.

Ask the patient:

Daniel Campbell, who lost his arm in a farming accident:

“After I lost my arm, I realised I couldn’t even do simple things like cooking a meal or picking up a clothes basket.

“It took a lot away from my capacity to work, but now I have my arm I’m keen to get back to it and have a go. Now I’ve been able to pick up boxes and carry things, it’s given me a lot of my independence back.

“Everyone is really intrigued by how the arm works and what it can do. I just think normal movements and I can move my hand – it’s a bizarre sensation.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Frank Bruscino-Raiola, The Alfred Hospital Director of Plastic Surgery:

“TMR and osseointegration is a new exciting frontier in the surgical and rehabilitation management of upper limb amputees.

“All of our patients who have completed the program are really excited about the potential for their new limbs. Where previously their movements were quite limited, this new technology opens up a new realm of what they’re able to achieve.”