Model of Musculoskeletal health in WA

The Musculoskeletal Health Network WA APMA is inclusive of four models of care. The Service Model describes ‘where and how the work gets done’, reflecting how each health service in WA will use the models of care model of care to improve patient outcomes. APMA requested that the Service Model include outreach and tele-health as well as aged care facilities in its list of communityRead more

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently invited APMA to review and comment on its Scoping Document to inform the Acute Pain Guidelines. APMA was very pleased to be recognised by this request. APMA worked collaboratively with several organisations in preparing its submission, and was also able to submit letters from Australian world leading expert  Associate Professor Pam Macintyre, as well as Dr Tim Semple (President, Australian Pain Society) and Associate Professor Brendan Moore (Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine). The collaboration highlights the strong commitment and cooperation in Australia to improve the care of patients with pain. The APMA submission is here.

NEW CHAMPION FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT

Luke Escombe is an award-winning songwriter, musician and comedian with Crohn's disease. Last year he used his experiences to form the narrative of a musical comedy show called "Chronic", which premiered at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to critical acclaim and went on to sold out performances at the Edinburgh, Sydney and Adelaide Fringes. Read more

FOI APPLICATION LODGED

APMA has lobbied the Federal Government, and all 226 Federal Parliamentarians, for several years to recognise the need to recognise that persistent (chronic) pain can be a disease in its own right. This lobbying, also undertaken by Painaustralia, the Faculty of Pain Medicine and a range of other organisations and which is consistent with the National Pain Strategy, has been unsuccessful (to date). Read more

APMA & THE PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

As the consumer voice for people living with persistent pain, it is important that APMA provides a viewpoint on behalf of consumers in relation to each application to list on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which relates to pain medication. The approach which APMA adopts in preparing its submission on each pain-related medication being considered by the PBAC is detailed here. Yet another reason to become an APMA member! Read more

A WORKABLE REFORM

The recent focus on assisting people to move from the Disability Support Pension (DSP) to participation in the paid workforce where possible has been welcomed by APMA. Many of our members, and other people living with pain, would love to remain in or return to the workplace. APMA has made its cautious support for the reforms clear in a detailed submission recently to a Senate Committee examining a Bill before Parliament to give effect to a major plank of the reforms. Read more

Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of Patient Organisations

The International Alliance of Patient Organisations (IAPO) is a global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare worldwide. Its members are patients' organizations - such as APMA - working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. IAPO has over 200 members which span over 50 countries and 50 disease areas and through its membership represents an estimated 365 million patients worldwide. IAPO is officially linked with the World Health Organisation. Read more

APMA SUBMISSIONS

As part of its efforts to advocate on behalf of people with persistent pain and influence Governments, employers and the Australian community generally about the needs of affected individuals and their families, APMA regularly prepares submissions and lobbies Ministers, Governments and Health Departments.

Some of the detailed submissions prepared and lodged in the last two years include:

• Ensuring persistent pain needs are considered in the development of Medicare Locals
• Seeking improved pain services in South Australia (a similar letter was sent to every South Australian State MP)
• Protecting people with persistent pain from unregistered practitioners
• The Government's administration of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
• The proposed new Impairment Tables for assessing eligibility to receive Disability Support Pension
• An additional submission about the DSP Impairment Tables
• The development of guidelines for the Federal Government's Chronic Disease Prevention & Service Improvement Fund. The original DOHA discussion paper is available here.
• The draft WA Chronic Health Conditions Framework & Chronic Conditions Self-management Strategic Framework
• APMA commentary in relation to a review of the WHO scoping document to inform the Acute Pain Guidelines