ACMA review lets down future generations
The Australian Medical Association has expressed extreme disappointment and surprise at the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA’s) draft Children’s Television Standards 2008. The draft standards proposals include no general restrictions on food and beverage advertising during children’s viewing times. ACMA admitted the issue of food and beverage advertising to children was a core component of the review but said there was not a sufficient consensus on the impact of banning junk food advertising on obesity levels.
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua said that in a nation with an escalating childhood obesity problem, it is simply unacceptable to allow these ads to continue to air during children’s prime-time TV. The AMA will be making a submission to ACMA, calling for it to revise its recommendations in the final Children’s Television Standards. More
Prevention needed to trim the fat
Dr Capolingua said on 22 August 2008 that findings in a new report show the obesity epidemic is costing the nation $58 billion a year and confirms that many Australians are suffering significant health problems due to obesity. She said that the Access Economics report, which was commissioned by Diabetes Australia, reinforces the need for a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to preventing obesity. Dr Capolingua said doctors play an important role in health advice, monitoring and assessing disease risk, prevention and assisting and managing the individual’s particular circumstances in regard to obesity. The Access Economic report found that 3.71 million Australians, or 17.5 per cent of the population, were obese. More
Review of the Other Medical Practitioners’ (OMPs) Programs
The Department of Health and Ageing is reviewing each of the OMPs programs. It has engaged the Allen Consulting Group to conduct the review. The review will consider the following aspects of program performance:
· the appropriateness of each program.
· the effectiveness of each program.
· the efficiency of each program.
· the degree of integration between Government agencies in policy development and program delivery.
· the adequacy of current program performance assessment criteria.
The AMA will be providing feedback to the Department about the OMPs programs. Members can read the Allen Consulting Group's discussion paper on the AMA website by clicking here. You are invited to email your feedback to us at generalpractice@ama.com.au.
Consultation on new standards framework for medicine
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) has launched for comment a draft code of conduct for nationally consistent standards of medical practice. The AMC is developing the code – Good Medical Practice – on behalf of all state and territory medical registration boards. More
Study of the migration of South African medical graduates to Australia.
Dr Peter Arnold BSc, MBBCh (Witwatersrand 1961) BA (UNE), formerly Deputy President of the NSW Medical Board and Chairman of the Federal Council of the AMA, is undertaking a study of the migration of South African medical graduates to Australia. He is being assisted by a sociologist and a statistician.
Dr Arnold is attempting to contact by e-mail all 2,000 medical graduates who have migrated to Australia, as well as the surviving spouses or children of those who have died since migrating. He is asking South African medical graduates to contact him at: parnold@ozemail.com.au.