Audit finds Morrison-era health department deliberately breached guidelines administering $2bn program | Australian politics

The federal health department “fell short of ethical requirements” and deliberately breached commonwealth grant guidelines in administering a $2bn Morrison government community health program, the audit office has ruled in a blistering report.

The Australian National Audit Office found just two of 63 major projects were assessed as “highly suitable” for the Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP), which was meant to be a key benchmark to even be shortlisted.

“The Department of Health and Aged Care’s administration of the Community Health and Hospitals Program was ineffective and fell short of ethical requirements,” the ANAO said.

The health minister, Mark Butler, has savaged his predecessors for announcing projects “without assessment or guidance” and ordered his department to “run the ruler” over remaining projects funded in the program.

The audit office said the CHHP included $1.25bn in the 2018–19 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook and $747m in the 2019–20 budget, both ahead of the May 2019 election.

The ANAO said the CHHP and associated programs comprised 171 projects, including 108 grants and 63 national partnership agreement projects with state or territory governments. The health department did not develop grant guidelines for seven of the 108 grants; the ANAO claimed at least three of those were a “deliberate decision by senior management to not comply with finance law”.

“Health’s administration of CHHP grants was not appropriate, involving deliberate breaches of the relevant legal requirements and the principles underpinning them,” the ANAO said.

“Health recommended funding multiple grants prior to confirming that there was lawful authority for grants, or despite knowing that there was no legislative authority.”

The department established an expression of interest process for potential projects and assessed applicants, but the ANAO said “most approved projects were selected by government outside this process”.

The ANAO alleged: the department did not advise

Top Healthcare Stocks for June 2023

Healthcare Stocks With the Most Momentum
  Price ($) Market Cap ($B) 12-Month Trailing Total Return (%)
Viking Therapeutics Inc. (VKTX) 23.07 2.3 885.9
Cabaletta Bio Inc. (CABA) 11.94 0.5 840.2
Prometheus Biosciences Inc. (RXDX) 198.80 9.5 614.9
Russell 1000 Index N/A N/A 2.3
Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) N/A N/A -1.7

Source: YCharts

  • Viking Therapeutics Inc.: Viking is a biopharmaceuticals company that develops products for patients with metabolic and endocrine disorders. The stock jumped 69% in a day in late March after the company reported promising early trial data for an obesity drug.
  • Cabaletta Bio Inc.: Cabaletta is a biotech company that discovers and develops therapies for autoimmune diseases. Shares have risen steadily since October the company said it was pursuing clinical trials of CABA-201 for use in treating autoimmune disorders.
  • Prometheus Biosciences Inc.: Prometheus is a biosciences company that develops diagnostics and therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease. The stock has surged since Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) announced in late April plans to acquire Prometheus for about $11 billion.

Advantages of Healthcare Stocks

An aging baby boomer population is creating additional demand for medical products and services, underpinning growth expectations for the healthcare sector. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. national healthcare expenditure is expected to reach $6.8 trillion by 2030.

A key advantage of the healthcare sector is consistent demand. The overall demand for healthcare products and services is likely to remain steady and to even increase as populations age. This makes healthcare stocks a potential defensive play.

At the same time, rapidly developing technologies also provide opportunities for both short- and long-term growth potential in the industry. It is also not uncommon for individual healthcare companies to see massive surges in stock price upon the announcement of promising clinical trials or

Before She Passed Away, Tina Turner Said Something Heartbreaking About Her Health

Before her tragic death, iconic singer Tina Turner shared a health warning that could inspire others to avoid some of the issues she faced — and also serves as a timely rebuke of the country’s public health eduaction and medical system.

“If I had known how high blood pressure and kidney disease are connected,” the late performer wrote in an Instagram post roughly three months before her passing last month, “I would have been spared a lot of suffering.”

As Lisa Fitzpatrick, a physician and medical epidemiologist, points out in a piece for Forbes about the heartbreaking warning, it’s jarring to know that even a star of Turner’s stature, “with access to state-of-the-art healthcare,” was unaware of those risks.

In short, as Fitzpatrick argues, it’s a damning indictment of the healthcare system’s failure to prioritize health communication and medical literacy.

“My kidneys are victims of my not realizing that my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine,” Turner wrote in her post. “I have put myself in great danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong therapy with medication.”

“For far too long I believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion,” she continued.

Turner had, as reports highlighted following her death at the age of 83 last month, suffered from high blood pressure and kidney disease, the latter of which led to her having a kidney transplant in 2017.

As Fitzpatrick notes, healthcare literacy — which is majorly lacking in the United States — could have “enabled [Turner] to understand how her blood pressure was damaging and why inaction would inevitably lead to the loss of kidney function.”

Fitzpatrick pointed out the way health messaging is often buried in a “morass of corporate jargon” and that there often isn’t a

33 Best Amazon Clothes and Fashion Finds

Pros: Lightweight & Stretchy

Cons: Be careful when washing due to falling apart

Customer Review: “I have owned two of these shirts for a long time and they have travelled with me on many overseas adventures. They are so lightweight and pack easily. They are soft and comfortable and drape a fuller figure in just the right way. I recently experienced weight loss and found myself needing a smaller size so I came back and bought 2 more.”

The Essential T-Shirt 

Sizes: S -XXL

While last-minute birthday gifts might be considered Amazon essentials, so are T-shirts. Available in seven colors, this oversized graphic tee offers a loose-fit. 

Pros: Graphic tees for women made from soft, lightweight and stretchy fabric, provides a familiar feel. It’s so comfortable to wear all day long.

Cons: Sizes run much smaller then advertised 

Customer Review: “Actually a really nice tshirt! I am 5’6 and 165lbs and a large fits perfect. Fabric is very soft. Haven’t washed it yet but if it shrinks I think I’ll still be comfortable. Pleasantly surprised”

Sleeveless Sweater Vest

Sizes: S – L

Okay, how cute is this sweater vest!? It comes in a slew of colors and prints, feels super soft against the skin (thanks to the acrylic fabric), and can practically go with anything. Layer it over a long-sleeve button-up for a trendy look. 

Pros: 20+ Different patterns to choose from

Cons: Some colors tend to bleed over time

Customer Review: “it is just like the pictures but not for colder weather unless you were layering! it isn’t that usual sports bra texture, but it is still quite thin almost like a T-shirt rather than a sweater vest. the crop is a decent length nice tho and colors are just right”

Trusted Denim Jeans

Sizes: 24 – 34  (

Health minister announces expansion of services at beleaguered Surrey Memorial Hospital

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix has announced a number of improvements at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) with an immediate focus on a new contract for hospitalists, along with hiring more staff for the emergency department, maternity ward and mental health services. 

Dix also promised enhanced cardiac diagnostic services and renal care and dialysis at SMH within 18 months. Urgent Primary Care Centres in Surrey will also be expanding their hours, he said.

The announcement comes amid a crisis at SMH, highlighted in the last month by dozens of doctors speaking out about chronic understaffing, underfunding and congestion that has pushed the hospital to the breaking point. 

News of the improvements were welcomed by the B.C. Nurses’ Union, with a caveat. 

“It is the responsibility of Fraser Health to ensure today’s phased action plan is implemented as soon as possible,” said the BCNU in a statement. 

“We will be following up with our members to monitor the extent to which these new measures are actually improving working conditions and providing the relief the emergency department needs in order to provide the level of care patients deserve.”

The BCNU said the government needs to also address the crisis in patient care at other acute-care emergency centres in the province.

For Dr. Claudine Storness-Bliss, co-lead at SMH’s obstetrics and gynecology department, the announcement is a big win for the Surrey community and Fraser Health region.

Storness-Bliss and over 30 OBGYN doctors at SMH signed a letter in May saying a critical lack of resources is compromising patient safety, resulting in an untold number of close calls and the death of a newborn in 2020. 

 “We as a group, as OBGYNs, are very thankful for the opportunity to have our voices heard … and we are grateful for a quick response, which is really

15 Healthcare Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On

In this article, we discuss 15 best healthcare stocks billionaires are loading up on. You can skip our detailed discussion on the healthcare sector and its performance, and go directly to read 5 Healthcare Stocks Billionaires Are Loading Up On

The healthcare sector in the US is a multifaceted industry that plays a crucial role in providing medical services to the population. The sector overall includes healthcare providers, health insurers, MedTech companies, pharmaceuticals, and research and development companies. The healthcare sector demonstrated resilience over the years mainly because of its defensive nature. The stable demand for medical products and services also contributes to the sector’s performance during recessionary periods. BlackRock reported that the healthcare industry outperformed the broader market over the last seven recessionary periods by an average of 10.3%.

Last year’s financial turmoil altered the investment landscape as investors struggled to balance their portfolios due to persistent interest rate hikes and growing inflation. The healthcare sector emerged as one of the winners in 2022, with the S&P 500 Healthcare Index falling by just 2.44%, compared with an 18.5% decline in the S&P 500.

Also read: 15 Best Healthcare Stocks To Buy Now

Apart from their defensive nature, another reason for the outperformance of the healthcare sector is its adaptability to address the challenges and changes brought about by the pandemic of 2020. The rapid expansion of telehealth gave way to improved healthcare services, particularly for individuals in rural or underserved areas. In 2022, 68% of physicians offered virtual health options, up from 14% in the prior year, according to Deloitte’s data we reported in 14 Best Healthcare Dividend Stocks to Buy. We further highlighted that 57% to 80% of patients prefer telehealth services.

These advancements in medical technology and the long-term growth potential of healthcare stocks have billionaire

Study examines the potential of AI chatbots in facilitating access to dependable sexual health information

New research sheds light on the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards AI-led interventions and identifies potential barriers to the implementation of AI in the field of sexual and reproductive health services. While there was recognition of the potential benefits of automation and AI, particularly in administrative tasks, concerns were raised about the limitations of AI in handling complex cases and understanding patients’ emotional states. The study has been published in the International Journal of STD & AIDS.

“The surge in sexually transmitted infections to unprecedented levels and the underfunding faced by the UK National Health Service underscores the pressing need for reliable, effective, and safe sexual health education,” said study author Tom Nadarzynski, an associate professor of digital health at the University of Westminster.

“I perceive the advent of AI as a game-changing opportunity to delegate parts of health promotion to chatbots, especially for marginalized communities. These groups often experience apprehension when discussing sexual health with healthcare professionals due to fears of stigma, embarrassment, and discrimination.”

To conduct the study, the researchers distributed an online survey to 150 sexual and reproductive healthcare professionals working in England, mainly through online advertisements and professional networks. The sample included a diversity of roles, including consultants, specialist doctors, nurses, health advisors, psychologists, support workers, healthcare assistants, commissioners, service managers, and health promotion practitioners.

The survey included demographic questions, assessment of attitudes towards digital sexual health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploration of the perceived usefulness of automation in sexual and reproductive health services, and assessment of attitudes towards AI and chatbots. Additionally, 24 participants from the survey completed qualitative interviews to gain more in-depth insights.

The findings of the study revealed mixed attitudes towards the automation of sexual and reproductive health services. While some automation services were seen as useful, such as appointment

A mental health chatbot went rogue with harmful advice

(NewsNation) — A chatbot meant to help those dealing with eating disorders began offering diet advice after generative artificial intelligence capabilities were added in the latest instance of an AI going off-script in potentially harmful ways.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the instance of Tessa, a bot used on the National Eating Disorder Association’s website. Originally, Tessa was designed as a closed-system bot, only capable of delivering a set of answers determined by developers.

The company that administered the bot added generative AI capabilities later, giving the bot the ability to go off-script and create its own answers based on data. NEDA said they were unaware of the shift, which led the bot to begin offering diet advice in response to questions about eating disorders.

Tessa was taken offline, but it’s one of several instances that highlights the potential drawbacks of using AI, especially in arenas such as health, where sensitivity and accuracy can be critical.

A YouTube AI that transcribed speech in kids’ videos was found to be inserting profane language where none previously existed, potentially exposing children to inappropriate content.

Replika, an app that bills itself as an AI friend, began acting sexually aggressive toward users, to the point that some described the behavior as harassment.

An AI assistant on Bing began acting aggressive and angry toward users, even threatening some who interacted with the bot.

Lawyers who used ChatGPT to write case documents found the AI produced inaccurate information, including citing cases that didn’t exist.

Artificial intelligence can sound convincingly human, even when dispensing verifiably false information. In some ways, that’s by design: AI is meant to mimic human thought and behavior rather than to strictly identify truthful information.

AIs are also only as good

Eileen Fisher: 6 lessons from 14 years recycling clothes

For 40 years, Eileen Fisher has cultivated a very loyal — almost groupie — customer for its minimalist, classic and timeless styles. And now it taps that cult following to help boost its circular business and create a model for other apparel brands.  

Eileen Fisher’s clothing “take back” program, Renew, has collected 2 million garments — about 20,000 per month — from customers since 2009. The Eileen Fisher team and its partners get hands-on sorting, cleaning and repairing returned items. Many pieces get repaired and resold in the brick-and-mortar stores and online, while those that are too far gone are often downcycled into art, pillow cases and other products, said Carmen Gama, director of circular design at Eileen Fisher, during a panel at GreenBiz’s Circularity 23 conference this week in Seattle. 

Here are six business lessons Eileen Fisher has learned since it launched the program that can help guide others designing and scaling circular products and businesses too.

1. Make it easy for customers 

Eileen Fisher has more than 60 retail stores across the country, where customers can easily drop off used clothing. The company also gives customers the option to mail clothes directly to its warehouses. As a small incentive, each item, no matter what the condition, gets a $5 credit. Refurbished items are then sold both in-store and online to create the same shopping experience as new clothes.

2. Learn from what you get back 

“When you see damaged goods all day long, you get a lot of information,” Gama said.

The Eileen Fisher team examines the clothes customers return to gain valuable insights and potential improvements on its products — such as a pair of leather pants that keeps coming back after years of wear with the same split down the side seam, or how a certain

Durham health department begins monitoring beach water; all beaches safe for swimming


If you wanted to go for a swim at one of Durham’s beaches this weekend, they’re all safe for swimming.

The region’s health department has started testing beach water at all 14 locations.

Beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming when there are elevated levels of E. coli.

This week’s test results all came back clear, which means all of the beaches are open.

Although Kinsmen Beach in Scugog is technically listed as safe, there is a blue-green algae advisory in effect. You’re advised not to go swimming or play in areas where water is discoloured or where foam, scum or mats of algae are present on the water’s surface. Consuming fish from areas where mats of algae are present is also not advised. Pets should also not drink the water.

If there is heavy rainfall, health officials say you should not go swimming in beach water for at least 48 hours because bacteria levels can increase due to run-off.

Test results for the week of June 5, 2023

Municipality

Beach

Status

Ajax

Paradise Beach (Lakeview Blvd. and Paradise Lane)Map this location

Open

Brock

Beaverton North Beach (Wellington St. and Victoria St.)Map this location

Open

Brock

Beaverton South Beach (Simcoe St. & Harbour Park Cres.)Map this location

Open

Brock

Thorah Centennial Park (Shoreline Rd. RR#47 and Thorah Concession Rd. 9)Map this location

Open

Clarington

Bowmanville East (Port Darlington Rd. and East Beach Rd.)Map this location

Open

Clarington

Bowmanville West (West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd.)Map this location

Open

Clarington

Newcastle Beach Central (Mill St. South and Boulton St.)Map this location

Open

Oshawa

Lakeview Beach East (Simcoe St. South and Lakeview Park Ave.)Map this location

Open

Oshawa

Lakeview Beach West (Kluane Ave. and Lakeview Park Ave.)Map this location

Open

Pickering

Frenchman’s Bay

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