Australian Medical Association

AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton says the AMA with other organisations are lobbying the Government to introduce new taxes on alcohol based on volume not price. He says taxes do modify behaviour as price does effect people's behaviour and spending.

Dr Hambleton talks about the symptoms of toxic waste after road workers potentially uncovered some on the Pacific Highway. He says exposure can be measured.

Dr Hambleton discusses the AMAs Position Statement on regional/rural initiatives for attracting doctors and medical students to live and work in rural Australia.

Dr Hambleton says the Government is making the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records too complex, with too much red tape. He said the system could save lives, but highlights that no money has been allocated in Medicare to cover the new service.

Dr Hambleton is supporting calls for a rethink to tackle the illegal drug trade. He says we all know young people have a range of illicit drugs available to them and it is time to examine the issues surrounding illegal drugs.

Dr Hambleton says medical certificates are legal documents, and that it is time that the doctor who wrote the certificate for Labor MP Craig Thomson should be respected after the Opposition said his medical certificate was too vague. Dr Hambleton says that for a medical certificate, a diagnosis is not usually required.

Dr Hambleton discusses the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council's investigation into homoeopathy. He says plausible scientific backing is needed to inform consumers about the real benefits of some of the therapies.

Dr Hambleton says the Government's plan to allow psychologists and pharmacists to dispense the contraceptive pill and cholesterol lowering drugs to patients without a current prescription from their GP is the wrong approach. He says GP's have the option of writing a long term prescription if they feel the person will need it for an extended amount of time.

Dr Hambleton says people taking cholesterol lowering drugs should not be concerned after US researchers found cholesterol lowering drugs can have serious side effects. Dr Hambleton says the benefits of the drugs far outweigh the risks and if patients are concerned they should speak to their doctor.

Dr Hambleton discussed a study commissioned by the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia indicating that fish oil could save the economy more than $4 billion. He says that what 'fish oil' is needs to be clarified in terms of quality, comparing manufacturers, and quality control standards before being put on the PBS.