We welcome any feedback on the contents of the 22nd issue of ASMS Direct for 2009.
This copy of ASMS Direct focuses on:
1. December issue of The Specialist.
2. New ASMS Health Dialogue on SMO Commission.
3. Update on the shift of emphasis in government policy over devolution of secondary care services
4. Applications sought for appointments to ministerial advisory committees.
5. Season greetings and national office shutdown.
Hopefully by now you will have received the December issue of The Specialist. It is a ‘must read’ publication. As well as Dr Jeff Brown’s Presidential Address to the ASMS Annual Conference the features are:
1. Strategic direction for our forthcoming national MECA negotiations with the 21 DHBs (the front page article).
How the New Zealand health system compares with other countries (first class address to Annual Conference by Dr Don Matheson, Professor of Health Policy at Massey University and a former Director-General of Health).
Other important articles cover:
· Getting the primary-secondary interface right.
· Understanding health funding in 2010 and beyond.
· Fully funding Accident Compensation.
· Suing doctors in New Zealand despite ACC (Medical Protection Society).
The ASMS was disappointed overall with the report of the Minister of Health’s Commission set up to report on competitive and sustainable terms and conditions of employment for senior medical and dental officers in DHBs. While there is much material and advice of merit, it failed to fulfil completely its terms of reference. Consequently the ASMS has produced a Health Dialogue analysing the Commission’s report. It includes a response from the Chair of the Commission.
It is available for members on request by either emailing us at asms@asms.org.nz or downloading from our website www.asms.org.nz. This publication is an important read as it also includes important information about the nature of the medical workforce crisis in DHBs.
In our previous issue we reported on the encouraging shift of emphasis in the government’s policy in devolution in respect of the nine approved ‘expressions of interest from primary care organisations. That is, the business cases (requiring agreement with the relevant DHBs) should not involve devolution of services from secondary care to primary care.
The message is getting through to some DHBs at least although the Minister of Health has been coy in public utterances (presumably because of fear of alarming some more commercially aggressive primary care business interests). Lakes DHB (Rotorua-Taupo) have written to the ASMS advising that as a result a feasibility study of potential devolution to the Pinnacle IPA (one of the nine approved bids) of the Taupo child & adolescent mental health service has been stopped, something which is much appreciated. In her letter the Lakes Chief Executive states:
On Friday 4 December we received information that the Minister of Health has instructed the primary care team in the Ministry of Health that he does not want their focus to be on devolution from secondary to primary care.
This is a further encouraging development and members involved in services affected by this process should factor this in to their consideration and engagement.
Medsafe, a business unit within the Ministry of Health, is seeking nominations for the ministerial advisory committees established under the Medicines Act 1981. There are three committees:
1. Medicines Assessment Committee to advise the Minister of Health on the risk-benefit of new medicines.
2. Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee to advise the Minister of Health and Medsafe on the safety of approved medicines.
3. Medicines Review Committee to deal with objections to recommendations of an appropriate committee and hear appeals against decisions of the Director-General of Health in certain areas such as clinical trials, restrictions on the sale of medical devices, and licensing.
Further information can be found on their website - http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/other/vacancies.asp
The ASMS wishes all members, their families and whanau a festive, enjoyable and re-invigorating seasonal break after such a challenging year. The national office will close at mid-day on Thursday 24 December and reopen with reduced staff on Tuesday 5 January (more fully staffed Monday 11 January). I will be taking a longer period of leave returning to work on 27 January.
Best wishes
Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR