Writer
Stephen Leeder
Stephen Leeder is an Emeritus Professor of public health and community medicine at the University of Sydney. Steve has 45 years of experience in epidemiological research, medical education reform and in mentoring young investigators and is currently Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Epidemiology. He held the position of Chair of the Western Sydney Local Health District Board from 2011 until 2016 and was Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Journal of Australia from January 2013 until April 2015.
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STEPHEN LEEDER. Comparing health systems in 11 countries
A new report comparing health systems in eleven countries gives Australia a pat on the back but not for equity. What’s going on? Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER. Review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule, or MBS, is the basis for Medicare payments made for medical care in the community. It runs to over 900 pages and contains 5,700 items. Well over $2Ob pass through its ledger each year. It includes long and short clinical consultations and surgical procedures ($17b), pathology tests ($2.65b) and x-ray Continue reading »
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STEVE LEEDER. Health care: getting it right the first time
Ronald Reagan once famously quipped that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help’. But that doesn’t, for one moment, stop Michael Horrocks, Professor of Postgraduate Surgery at the University of Bath and a former President of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Continue reading »
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STEVE LEEDER. A welcome review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule
In 2015 Sussan Ley, then the Minister for Health, established a review of the schedule of fees for medical benefits. The review of the schedule’s 5700 items, involving a rigorous evidence-based process, is now around half way through. When completed it will provide an opportunity for more cost-effective health care and a saving of public Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER. Over-servicing in health.
Abuse of Medicare or other reimbursement schemes is much easier if the regulations surrounding it are lax. That is what makes the current review of Medicare so important so that the rules are clear and make the best match possible between cost and benefit. This will result in less temptation to overuse useless procedures that Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER. Looking forward to a national health policy and not ignoring the community.
Health policies presented as part of the election campaign should address our expectations for prompt, courteous and effective high-quality care when we need it and not be a random collection of thought balloons – from a child’s birthday? – about waiting lists and co-payments . Health care is essential to achieving goals for more Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER. Alcohol and sport.
Queensland’s victory over NSW in the June 1 game was reported as the highest rating State of Origin match ever and ‘the top TV event of 2016.’ Both teams carried alcohol advertising on their clothing into the match. The association of alcohol with sport is deep, complex and profitable. Sport provides a lucrative vehicle for Continue reading »
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Stephen Leeder. The takeover of the Medical Journal of Australia.
A quick glance at the last page of the most recent issue of the MJA reveals that there is as yet no replacement editor-in-chief and that two of the most senior medical editors – Janusic and Armstrong – are missing in action, as is the Editorial Advisory Committee. There is an interim editor. Many of Continue reading »
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Stephen Leeder. Telling the story of mental health.
It is unusual for Foreign Affairs, a magazine published by the United States Council on Foreign Relations in New York, to contain articles on health, but the first issue of 2015 carries an essay (Darkness invisible: the hidden global costs of mental illness) by three distinguished scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health about Continue reading »
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Stephen Leeder. Electronic medical records for patients!
Australia embarked on an ambitious journey when it committed to developing a medical record that would go with each patient to whatever health care provider they consulted. “The eHealth record system — launched in June 2012 — is an electronic record for a patient that contains a summary of their health information.” http://www.nehta.gov.au/our-work/pcehr This personally-controlled Continue reading »
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Facing the future. Guest blogger: Prof. Stephen Leeder
Facing the future in a world where black swan events change everything. When considering what we may be facing with a new federal government in Australia, a wise starting point would be a conversation with Nassim Nicholas Taleb, he of the Black Swan theory. Taleb has written extensively, using the discovery of black swans in Continue reading »
