The Hon Tony Abbott MHR - Media Items

May 2005

28 May 2005

The vocation of medicine

Speech notes for the Rural Physicians and Paediatrics Conference in Sydney.

28 May 2005

Study into locum relief for rural obstetricians

The Commonwealth Government is contracting the Rural Doctors Association of Australia to conduct a six-month scoping study to consider options for a locum scheme for rural obstetricians.

26 May 2005

NHMRC review of microwave cancer therapy

The final report of the National Health and Medical Research Council review of the therapeutic effectiveness of microwave cancer therapy, as practised by Dr John Holt in Western Australia, is expected in mid-2005.

26 May 2005

A cuppa and some spare change go a long way for cancer support

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is one of the largest and most successful annual fundraising events in the nation.

26 May 2005

Taskforce to lift private investment in medical research

A taskforce has been formed to advise the Australian Government on ways to encourage more investment by the private sector in Australian health and medical research.

25 May 2005

First hepatitis C awareness week highlights hopes for treatment and cure

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, has launched the first National Hepatitis C Awareness Week.

25 May 2005

Government to establish new rural clinical school in the Northern Territory

The Australian Government will provide more than $7 million to establish a new Rural Clinical School based in the Northern Territory.

23 May 2005

Launch of National Palliative Care Week 2005

Carers who nurse the terminally ill are the unsung heroes of our community, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, said at the launch of National Palliative Care Week.

19 May 2005

Research projects focus on the health of Indigenous children

Research projects in Western Australia and New South Wales targeting the health of Indigenous children will receive $6.5 million from the Australian Government.

19 May 2005

Indigenous Health Research, Curtin University

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, spoke at Curtin University about Indigenous Health Research.

17 May 2005

Australia to establish a national clinical trials register

The Australian Government is spending $1.5 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council to establish a national clinical trials register.Trials entered on the register will range from those researching new drugs and treatments to new and/or improved surgical procedures and medical devices.

16 May 2005

$2 million boost to after-hours GP services

The Commonwealth Government will spend more than $2 million on after-hours GP clinics in regional and outer suburban areas.

16 May 2005

Older Australians lead surge in health insurance

Memberships for those aged over 55 rose by almost 24,000 in the March quarter, after an increase of 31,000 in the December 2004 quarter, according to figures released today by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council.

13 May 2005

Reduced payments for doctors; level playing field for medical indemnity insurers

The Australian Government will reduce doctors’ contributions to the cost of rescuing the United group, while levelling the playing field in the medical indemnity insurance market.

13 May 2005

GP bulk-billing rate reaches 3-year peak

The national GP bulk-billing rate has reached a three-year peak of 73.7 per cent - an increase of 7.2 percentage points since the government introduced its Medicare package in early 2004, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, said today. This is the first time in 10 years that bulk-billing rates have increased over five successive quarters.

12 May 2005

Labor ignores health

The future health of Australians doesn’t even rate a mention under federal Labor.

12 May 2005

The trouble with experts

Speech notes - 2005 Ethics in Human Research Conference, Canberra.

11 May 2005

Government committed to new listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

The Australian Government has committed to spending more than $1 billion on the PBS between now and the 2007-08 financial year for PBS listings.

11 May 2005

GPs benefit from Budget

Measures in the 2005 Budget, totalling more than $3 billion, will support and enhance the role of general practitioners in delivering affordable and quality primary health care.

11 May 2005

Government announces clinical review of IVF

The Australian Government is to review the costs and benefits of assisted reproductive technologies for the purposes of public funding under Medicare. The terms of reference for the review and the members will be announced shortly.

06 May 2005

Alcohol-crime diversion pilot program expands to Bathurst

Minister for Health and Ageing Tony Abbott, and the NSW Special Minister of State, John Della Bosca, have announced the expansion of the Rural Alcohol Diversion Pilot Program to Bathurst Local Court.

06 May 2005

Central West to benefit from health grants

Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, has announced funding of more than $610,000 to improve the capacity of private hospitals and allied health services in the Central West.

02 May 2005

Infectious Diseases Conference, Pandemic Preparedness

Speech notes for Infectious Diseases Conference, Pandemic Preparedness.