Acronyms and Glossary

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Acronyms

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics

ACAP Aged Care Assessment Program

ACAT Aged Care Assessment Team

AGHS Australian Government Health Service

AGPN Australian General Practice Network

AHMAC Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council

AHMC Australian Health Ministers’ Conference

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

ANAO Australian National Audit Office

APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

ATAPS Access to Allied Psychological Services

AusAID Australian Agency for International Development

CACP Community Aged Care Packages

COAG Council of Australian Governments

EACH Extended Aged Care at Home

FFR Federal Financial Relations

FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand

GMO Genetically Modified Organism

GP General Practice or General Practitioner

GPD General Practice Divisions

GST Goods and Services Tax

H1N1 Hemagglutinin Neuraminidase or Influenza A virus

HACC Home and Community Care

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HPV Human Papillomavirus

bDMARDS Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

IVDs In Vitro Diagnostics

IVF In Vitro Fertilisation

MBS Medicare Benefits Schedule

MOS Mobile Outreach Service

MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

NDC National Drugs Campaign

NDS National Drug Strategy

NEHTA National E-Health Transition Authority

NHCCN National Health Call Centre Network

NHHN National Health and Hospital Network

NICNAS National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme

NIS National Immunisation Strategy

NTS National Tobacco Strategy

NTYC National Tobacco Youth Campaign

OATSIH Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

OHS Office of Hearing Services

OGTR Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

PBAC Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee

PBPA Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority

PBS Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

PET Positron Emission Tomography

PIP Practice Incentives Program

QAAMS Quality Assurance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services

RFDS Royal Flying Doctor Service

STI Sexually Transmissible Infections

TGA Therapeutic Goods Administration

WHO World Health Organization

Glossary

Acute Care	Short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients with an acute illness or injury, or recovering from surgery. Acute illness/injury is one that is severe in its effect or approaching crisis point, for example acute appendicitis.
Aldurazyme^®	An enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Mucopolysaccharidosis
Allied Health Care	A group of medically-prescribed health care services, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology and physical therapy, provided by licensed professionals.
Amoxicillin	Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
Antenatal	The period prior to birth.
Anthroposophic	A medicine formulated according to the anthroposophic understanding of man and nature; which applies a holistic approach to medicine, through the use of therapies such as modified homeopathic medicines, massage, meditation, art and music.
Antimicrobial	Destroying or inhibiting the multiplication and growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi.
Antiretroviral	Inhibiting the action of a retrovirus. Different antiretroviral treatments target differing stages of the life cycle of a retrovirus; inhibiting transcription, incorporation into the host cell’s DNA, or subsequent multiplication.
Audiologist	An allied health professional specialising in the science of hearing, who provides services that include: evaluation of hearing function to detect hearing impairment; determination of the anatomical site and cause of hearing impairment; and selection of appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.
Audiometrist	An allied health professional specialising in the measurement of the clarity of hearing through generation of tones of known frequencies and amplitudes.
Bioequivalence	Two preparations of the same drug, in the same dosage, having similar availability and effect on the target tissue.
Bio-statistics	The application of statistics to biology, medicine, nursing, and other health related professions.
Bleomycin	Bleomycin is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, used in the treatment of squamous cell cancers, melanoma, sarcoma, testicular cancer and lymphoma.
Blood Borne Viruses	Viruses that are transmitted through contact between infected blood and uninfected blood.
Blood Glucose	The amount of glucose present in the blood. The metabolism of glucose is the chief source of energy for the cells of the body, and the rate of metabolism is controlled by insulin.
Cardiac Pacemaker	An instrument implanted beneath the skin to control the rate of the heartbeat.
Cardiopulmonary Disease	Any disease of the heart (cardio) or lungs (pulmonary). Includes heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Cerezyme^®	Medication used for the long term therapy of Type 1 Gaucher disease.
Cervical cancer	A cancer of cervix and caused by human papillomavirus. It is a sexually transmissible infection.
Chemotherapy	The treatment of disease by chemical agents, for example the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Chlamydia infection	A sexually transmissible infection caused by a bacterium, Chlamydia.
Chronic Bronchitis	A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in which there is inflammation of the membrane lining the bronchial tube with increased secretions for at least three months, two years in a row. The most common cause is long-term inhalation of irritant substances.
Chronic Disease	The term applied to a diverse group of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis (to name a few), that tend to be long-lasting and persistent in their symptoms or development. Although these features also apply to some communicable diseases (infections), the general term chronic diseases is usually confined to non-communicable diseases.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	Long-term lung diseases marked by worsening shortness of breath that is not reversible, and an abnormal inflammatory response to noxious particles or gases. For example, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Cochlear Implant	A device consisting of a microphone, signal processor, external transmitter, and implanted receiver; the receiver is surgically implanted under the skin above and behind the ear. The implant allows new sound information to be transmitted to the brain and restores a limited sense of hearing.
Computed Tomography Scanning	An imaging method that uses computer processing to generate an image of tissue density in a ‘slice’ through the body. The images are spaced at 5-10 mm intervals allowing an anatomical cross-section of the body to be constructed.
Communicable Disease	Illnesses caused by microorganisms and transmitted from an infected person or animal to another person or animal.
Crohn’s Disease	A chronic, relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that produces bouts of diarrhoea, cramping of the abdomen, and fever.
Defibrillator	An apparatus used to stop irregular contractions of the heart by application of brief electroshock, either directly on the heart or through electrodes placed on the chest wall.
Dementia	A general and worsening loss of brain power such as memory, understanding and reasoning.
Diabetes	Refers to a group of syndromes caused by a malfunction in the production and release of insulin by the pancreas leading to a disturbance in blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is characterised by the abrupt onset of symptoms, usually during childhood; and inadequate production of insulin requiring regular injections to regulate insulin levels. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by gradual onset commonly between 50 and 60 years old; and is usually able to be regulated through dietary control.
Diphtheria	An acute infectious disease caused by the bacillus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and characterized by fever, swollen glands, and the formation of a membrane in the throat that prevents breathing. Infants are routinely vaccinated against diphtheria, which was once a common cause of death in children.
Dose Administration Aid	A device developed to assist patients in better managing their medicines by arranging their medicines into individual doses according to the prescribed dose schedule throughout the day.
Ecstasy	A synthetic hallucinogenic and euphoric drug, used illicitly as a stimulant.
eHealth	Application of internet and other related technologies in the health care industry to improve the access, efficiency, effectiveness and quality of clinical and business processes utilised by health care organisations, practitioners, patients and consumers to improve the health status of patients.
Elaprase^®	A drug used for the treatment of Hunter syndrome by replacing the absent or deficient enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase.
Electrocardiogram Machine	A device used to produce an image representing a record of the heart’s electrical action.
Emphysema	A slow developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterised by loss of elasticity of the lung tissues and abnormal stretching of the lung with air, causing severe restriction of respiratory function.
Epidemiology	The study of the determinants (risk factors) and distribution of disease among populations.
Epidermolysis Bullosa	A rare genetic disease that primarily affects children and is characterised by extremely fragile and blister prone skin.
Fabry disease	An X-linked inherited metabolic disorder caused by the deficiency of an enzyme, alpha-galactosidase A. Patients with this disorder suffer in childhood from severe pains in hands and feet and develop multi-system complications later in life, such as renal failure and cardiovascular complications.
Fabrazyme^®	Enzyme replacement therapy used in the treatment of fabry disease
Faecal occult blood test	A test that detects tiny amounts of blood, often released from bowel cancers or their precursors (polyps or adenomas) into the bowel motion.
Gaucher disease	An inherited disorder caused by the deficiency of an enzyme, glucocerebrosidase, which is required for the breakdown of a specialised lipid called glucocerebroside. Symptoms may include enlarged spleen and liver, liver malfunction, skeletal disorders and bone lesions, and severe neurological complications.
Generic	When referring to a drug, ‘generic’ means not covered by a trademark; where a drug is marketed under its chemical name without advertising.
Gene technology	Gene technology involves techniques for understanding the expression of genes and taking advantage of natural genetic variation for the modification of genetic material. It does not include sexual reproduction or DNA crossover.
Gonorrhoea	A sexually transmissible infection caused by a bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Haemophilia	An inherited disorder of blood clotting in which one of the essential clotting factors is deficient. The deficiency in clotting factor produces a wide range of bleeding episodes, usually into the joints or muscles.
Haemophilus pneumonia	A bacterial pneumonia caused by infection with H. influenzae, seen mainly in young children and immunocompromised adults. It sometimes progresses to life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, pericarditis, endocarditis, and epiglottitis that can cause obstruction of the airway.
Hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis)	An acute but benign form of viral hepatitis usually transmitted by ingesting food or drink that is contaminated with fecal matter.
Hepatitis B (serum hepatitis)	An acute (sometimes fatal) form of viral hepatitis transmitted by sexual contact, by transfusion or by ingestion of contaminated blood or other bodily fluids.
Hepatitis C	A blood borne viral disease that can result in serious liver disease such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is usually transmitted by parenteral means (as injection of an illicit drug or blood transfusion or exposure to blood or blood products).
Herceptin^®	A drug used in the late stages of breast cancer.
Herpes Simplex Virus	Virus that causes cold sores and fever blisters in and around the mouth.
Homeopathic Medicine	A medicine administered in minute doses that, when administered to a healthy person in a large dose, will cause similar symptoms, syndromes or conditions as those being treated.
Individual Health Identifiers	The information technology services that will enable the unique identification of each individual consumer of health care in Australia to: increase the integrity of identification of electronic health information records and communications; and enable accurate retrieval, discovery and recording of health information.
Intraocular lens	A prosthetic lens implanted within the eye.
In Vitro Diagnostic Devices	The test kits and instrumentation used to carry out testing on human samples, where the results are intended to assist in clinical diagnosis, or in making decisions concerning clinical management.
Ionising Radiation	Electromagnetic radiation that has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms and create ions.
Islet	Structures of endocrine cells found in the pancreas. They include the insulin-producing beta cells, whose degeneration is one of the causes of diabetes.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging	A non-invasive nuclear medicine technology that uses strong magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to generate sectional images of the body. The image gives information about the chemical makeup of the tissues, allowing, for example, normal and cancerous tissues to be distinguished.
Mammographic screening	An x-ray of the breast. May be used to assess a breast lump or as a screening test in women with no evidence of cancer.
Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome	Also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. See Mucopolysaccharidosis.
Mastectomy	The surgical removal of breast tissue.
Measles	An acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterised by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms. Also called rubeola.
Melanoma	A tumour arising from the skin, consisting of dark masses of cells with a tendency to metastasize. It is the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
Memorandum of Understanding	A written but noncontractual agreement between two or more agencies or other parties to take a certain course of action.
Meningococcal disease	The inflammation of the meninges of the brain and the spinal cord caused by meningococcal bacteria which invade the body through respiratory tract. The infection develops quickly and is often characterised by fever, vomiting, an intense headache, stiff neck and septicemia (an infection in the bloodstream).
Methamphetamines	A drug that stimulates the central nervous system and is highly addictive.
Mumps	An acute, inflammatory, contagious disease caused by a paramyxovirus and characterised by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes. This disease mainly affects children and can be prevented by vaccination.
Mucopolysaccharidosis	A group of genetic disorders causing a defect in metabolism of mucopolysaccharides, marked by skeletal changes, mental retardation and corneal clouding. Type II: Caused by deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (an enzyme). It has slow progression and less severity of symptoms; as well as lack of corneal clouding. Also known as Hunter syndrome. Type IV: Caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase B (an enzyme). It is characterised by symptoms of varying severity, with normal intelligence. Also known as Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome.
Myozyme^®	A drug used to treat infantile onset Pompe disease.
Naglazyme^®	A drug used for the treatment of Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome by replacing the absent or deficient enzyme.
Nanomaterial	Materials with features smaller than one tenth of a micrometre.
Naratriptan^®	Naratriptan is used to treat the symptoms of migraine headaches (severe, throbbing headaches that sometimes are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound or light).
Nurse practitioner	A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse educated to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role.
Oncology	The study, knowledge and treatment of cancer and tumours.
Otitis media	Inflammation of the middle ear.
Outcomes	Outcomes, as used in the Australian Government’s Outcomes and Programs Framework, are the intended or proposed results, consequences or impacts of government actions on the Australian community.
Paget’s disease of bone	A disorder of the bone in which the normal maintenance system that keeps bones healthy, breaks down.
Palliative Care	Care provided to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients with a progressive and far-advanced disease, with little or no prospect of cure.
Pandemic	An epidemic affecting a wide geographic area.
Papanicolau test	A screening test for cancer of the cervix. Also called pap smear test.
Papillomavirus	A virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals.
Pathology services	The study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of organs, tissues, cells and bodily fluids. Pathology services provide a range of important diagnostic support services to help hospital staff and general practitioners diagnose and treat diseases and other medical conditions.
Perfluorinated Chemical	An inert chemical substance with a high oxygen carrying capacity that has been emulsified with surfactants and transfused to temporarily transport oxygen in the blood.
Performance Indicators	Indicators which are used to measure agency effectiveness in achieving the Government’s objectives.
Perinatal	The period shortly before and after birth. The term generally describes the period between the 20th week of gestation and one to four weeks after birth.
Pertusis (Whooping cough)	An acute, highly contagious respiratory disease characterised by paroxysmal coughing that ends in a loud whooping inspiration. It occurs primarily in infants and in children less than 4 years of age who have not been immunised. It is caused by a bacillus Bordetella pertussis.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome	A genetic disease in which the person develops intestinal polyps and is at a significantly higher risk for developing certain cancers.
Pneumococcal Meningitis	A potentially fatal type of bacterial inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, seen most often in young children and the elderly.
Pneumococcal pneumonia	A common but serious infection causing inflammation of the lungs. It is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)	A condition characterised by the accumulation of numerous cysts (fluid-filled sacs) on the ovaries associated with high male hormone levels, chronic anovulation (absent ovulation), and other metabolic disturbances. Classic symptoms include excess facial and body hair, acne, obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, and infertility.
Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements	Statements prepared by portfolios to explain the Additional Estimates Budget appropriations in terms of outcomes and programs.
Portfolio Budget Statements	Statements prepared by portfolios to explain the Budget appropriations in terms of outcomes and programs.
Positron Emission Tomography	A nuclear medicine technology that uses short-lived radioisotopes to enable the non-invasive imaging of metabolic functions within the body. The technology’s main application is in the staging of various cancers and the monitoring of cancer therapies.
Primary care	Provides the patient with a broad spectrum of care, both preventive and curative, over a period of time and coordinates all of the care the person receives.
Psycho-geriatric	A term describing either age-related or life-long mental health illnesses, and diseases of the brain which tend to predominantly affect older people, such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Radiation Oncology (Radiotherapy)	The study and discipline of treating malignant disease with radiation. The treatment is referred to as radiotherapy or radiation therapy.
Remote	Used to indicate those Australians living in areas that lie within either the ‘Very Remote Australia’ or ‘Remote Australia’ categories of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness structure.
Rubella (German Measles)	A highly contagious viral disease spreads through contact with discharges from the nose and throat of an infected person. Although rubella causes only mild symptoms of low fever, swollen glands, joint pain and a fine red rash in most children and adults. It can have severe complications for women in their first trimester of pregnancy. These complications include severe birth defects or death of the fetus.
Replagal^®	Replagal (agalsidase alfa) is a human alpha-galactosidase A, produced by genetic engineering technology and effective for the treatment of patients with Fabry disease.
Rural	Rural localities and towns with a total population of under 1,000 people. In terms of Rural, Remote, Metropolitan Areas Classifications: Rural includes small rural centres (urban centre population between 10,000 and 24,999), large rural centres (urban centre population between 25,000 and 99,000), and other rural centres (urban centre population less than 10,000), with each having an index of remoteness less than 10.5.
Revlimid^®	Drug used for treating sufferers of multiple myeloma and certain types of anemia.
Stent	A device or mould of a suitable material used to provide support for a tubular structure within the body, such as arteries, oesophagus, or urinary tract.
Stoma	Artificial body opening in the abdominal region, for the purpose of waste removal.
Syphilis	A chronic infectious disease caused by a spirochete (Treponema pallidium), It is either sexually transmitted or passed from mother to child in utero, and progressing through three stages characterised respectively by local formation of chancres, ulcerous skin eruptions, and systemic infection leading to general paresis.
Tetanus	An acute, often fatal disease characterised by spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles, especially those of the neck and jaw, and caused by the toxin of the bacillus Clostridium tetani, which typically infects the body through a deep wound. Also called lockjaw.
Triclosan	An antibacterial product which is effective against most bacteria and exhibits slight activity against yeasts and fungi, which is used in personal care and cosmetic products such as surgical scrubs, soaps and deodorants.
Tumour	An abnormal growth of tissue in which cell multiplication is uncontrolled and occurs faster than normal tissue growth.
Tykerb^®	A drug used for the treatment of late stage breast cancer, in women whose tumours are positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, when the disease has progressed after treatment using Herceptin^®.
Varicella (Chicken pox)	A very contagious and common childhood diseases, the affected child or adult may develop hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled blisters that burst and form crusts. Varicella is caused by a virus, varicella-zoster.
Viral Hepatitis	Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus.
Zavesca^®	A glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, used to treat mild to moderate cases of a rare genetic disease known as type I Gaucher disease.
Zolmitriptan^®	A selective serotonin receptor agonist, used for treating migrane headaches, associated nausea and sensitivity to light.

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ABS	Australian Bureau of Statistics
ACAP	Aged Care Assessment Program
ACAT	Aged Care Assessment Team
AGHS	Australian Government Health Service
AGPN	Australian General Practice Network
AHMAC	Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council
AHMC	Australian Health Ministers’ Conference
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ANAO	Australian National Audit Office
APEC	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
ATAPS	Access to Allied Psychological Services
AusAID	Australian Agency for International Development
CACP	Community Aged Care Packages
COAG	Council of Australian Governments
EACH	Extended Aged Care at Home
FFR	Federal Financial Relations
FSANZ	Food Standards Australia New Zealand
GMO	Genetically Modified Organism
GP	General Practice or General Practitioner
GPD	General Practice Divisions
GST	Goods and Services Tax
H1N1	Hemagglutinin Neuraminidase or Influenza A virus
HACC	Home and Community Care
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HPV	Human Papillomavirus
bDMARDS	Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
IVDs	In Vitro Diagnostics
IVF	In Vitro Fertilisation
MBS	Medicare Benefits Schedule
MOS	Mobile Outreach Service
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NDC	National Drugs Campaign
NDS	National Drug Strategy
NEHTA	National E-Health Transition Authority
NHCCN	National Health Call Centre Network
NHHN	National Health and Hospital Network
NICNAS	National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme
NIS	National Immunisation Strategy
NTS	National Tobacco Strategy
NTYC	National Tobacco Youth Campaign
OATSIH	Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
OECD	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OHS	Office of Hearing Services
OGTR	Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
PBAC	Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee
PBPA	Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority
PBS	Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
PET	Positron Emission Tomography
PIP	Practice Incentives Program
QAAMS	Quality Assurance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services
RFDS	Royal Flying Doctor Service
STI	Sexually Transmissible Infections
TGA	Therapeutic Goods Administration
WHO	World Health Organization