The Medical journal of Australia
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Clinical guidelines are recommendations based on systematic identification and synthesis of the best available scientific evidence. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has published standards for guideline development. According to the NHMRC standards, guideline development must be a transparent and independent process, with full disclosure of any potential competing interests. ⋯ Several features of the processes used to produce and distribute these guidelines, such as pharmaceutical sponsorship, do not meet NHMRC endorsement standards. The guidelines may overstate the need for thrombo-prophylaxis in medical patients, and thus expose some patients to an unnecessary risk of bleeding complications. Despite this, these guidelines have been taken up avidly by national and state bodies responsible for safety and quality in health care, and mandated national application has been proposed.
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The Australian Government's "alcopops" tax legislation will soon be voted on by the Senate. This is the first time in memory that an alcohol taxation measure has been informed principally by public health concerns. Much debate surrounds the utility of alcohol taxation as a measure to reduce alcohol-related harm. ⋯ Current alcohol tax policy is unwieldy and not well directed towards improving public health. A proportion of tax revenues dedicated to alcohol programs would assist public acceptance of the measures. A broad review of alcohol taxation policy is needed as part of a comprehensive approach to alcohol problems in Australia.