Author: Pawas Gupta

The AH&MRC is seeking expressions of interest for services wishing to use AH&MRC’s Mobile Health Clinic or the Mobile Denture van both currently located at AH&MRC Little Bay.  

The mobile health clinic is a motorhome that has been fitted with basic medical equipment including a point of care machine, fridge, and clinical items (e.g.: blood pressure machine). There is space to conduct a basic patient assessment and basic medical procedures (e.g.: providing vaccinations). It has a side awning which can be used to shelter a table for health promotion activities.

This link has a video of the layout of the mobile health clinic.

The mobile denture van can support the making of dentures only and is not set up to allow general dental services.  It requires access to electricity and water supply to be functional.

ACCHO’s are responsible for providing clinical items including cartridges for the POC machine, gloves and sharps bins etc. ACCHOs will also be responsible for the cost of fuel whilst using the vans.

The mobile vans are comprehensively insured by AH&MRC. However, organisational and medical/dental indemnity for services provided from the van will need to be covered by the successful ACCHO.

If you require further information or wish to send an EOI, please email the AH&MRC Public Health Team Publichealth@ahmrc.org.au. Please include a brief summary of how you plan to use the van and the required loan period (maximum of 3 months) in your EOI.

ASHM are currently in the early stages of progressing advocacy to potentially move hepatitis B medications from s100 to Section 85 (s85) to improve and increase access to treatment, as increasing access to primary care for hepatitis B management is a priority to reducing barriers to care. 

Currently, these medications are listed under Section 100 (s100) of the PBS, which allows only accredited community-based practitioners supported by a comprehensive prescriber program administered by ASHM to prescribe hepatitis B medications without hospital affiliation.

ASHM’s current priority is to continue sector consultation to seek information on jurisdictional nuances and ensure ASHM understand all implications of this potential change to avoid any unintended consequences. This consultation is being conducted to better understand the views and experiences of key stakeholders, to support ASHM in making informed recommendations and to advocate effectively for all individuals affected by a potential change.

ASHM invite you to complete the consultation survey here – it is open until 29/02/2024. If you would prefer to provide feedback via phone call or a meeting, please let us know and we would be delighted to organise this.

Read the letter of support from ASHM and Hepatitis Australia which details further information and outlines the expected benefits of this change including improved treatment access, adherence and health outcomes.

New regulations placing stronger controls on the importation, manufacture, and supply of vapes are being made in stages this year. A ban on the importation of disposable vapes has now been in force since 1 January meaning that patients cannot purchase any disposable vapes online from overseas.

From 1 March 2024 the importation of ALL vapes, irrespective of nicotine content or therapeutic claims, will be banned from sale. Vapes containing nicotine will be legal from a pharmacist with a prescription form a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Many patients may seek medical advice in the coming months on how to overcome their smoking and nicotine addictions. Unfortunately, MBS items supporting smoking and nicotine cessation counselling services have been discontinued, but these services can be provided through general time-tiered MBS items.

On a more positive note, the TGA has now implemented a new Special Access Scheme pathway to simplify prescription access to therapeutic vapes where clinically appropriate, with all doctors and nurse practitioners able to prescribe.  The following resources may be helpful for ACCHO staff to feel more confident in advising clients:

• RACGP Provisional Guidance to smoking and vaping cessation related to changes in regulations
• The Department of Health and Aging’s advice for health professionals may assist when considering whether patients are eligible for subsidised NRTs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
• Resources for health professionals available through the Quit Centre – www.quitcentre.org.au
• Patient support to quit smoking and/or vaping is available through Quitline services : Hotline on 13 QUIT (13 7848),or online at www.quit.org.au.

Now is the time to make sure ACCHO staff particularly your GP and Nurses understand the changes to accessing nicotine vapes. There is Information for Prescribers available on the TGA website and AH&MRC will keep communicating updates including access to resources as they become available.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoH) have advised that due to an IT issue with their mailbox, orders sent in December for PPE/RAT/ antiviral supplies from the National Medical Stockpile were never received.

They are asking ACCHOs to re-send their orders on the attached form to FirstNationsCOVID-19@health.gov.au and also to cc in Covid19Vaccine@naccho.org.au as NACCHO is keeping track of orders placed, acknowledged by Department of Health and then received.

To reduce delay with back and forth communication, before submitting a request the DoH are also asking ACCHOs to revise their orders based on the following criteria:

• Please explore your usual channels first for obtaining stock, because the National Medical Stockpile is intended for emergency support when no supplies are available (e.g. due to local floods or pandemic level demand).
• If your clinics are unable to obtain stock through usual channels, please provide specific numbers of items needed (e.g. 100 RAT Tests).
• Please limit requests for supplies to volumes likely to be needed for a few months only, based on your usual demand. This helps to avoid problems with stock expiring before it can be used.

Download the ACCHS Test, Treat and Protect order form here.

TGA reported a supply disruption for the benzathine benzylpenicillin shortage which is expected to improve by late February 2024. 

Please see the attached document for the full updates, but as previously mentioned:

• Prioritise the use of this product for Rheumatic Heart Disease / Acute Rheumatic Fever, Syphilis​ & consider alternative agents for other indications.
• Please continue to use existing pathways to access the benzathine benzylpenicillin.

 In addition, if unable to access benzathine benzylpenicillin, please reach out to:

• NSW Rheumatic Heart Disease Program on (02) 9391 9195 or NSWH-RHD@health.nsw.gov.au for ARF and RHD,
• NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 or your local sexual health clinic https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/sexualhealth/Pages/sexual-health-clinics.aspx for Syphilis

This information is also available online on the Infectious Diseases alerts page HERE.

The Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Centre was lucky to have Richie and Kay in Tamworth this week to be apart of their staff development day. 

Covering a range of topics from funding to 715 health checks, the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service are staying at the forefront of Indigenous Health.

They chatted and engaged well with all staff yesterday and hope they  can take their knowledge and further grow the organisation.