ACCC launches action against homeopathic website
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched Federal Court proceedings against owners of a website warning of the so-called health dangers of vaccination.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ACCC
The following articles have the tag ACCC
ACCC launches action against homeopathy site
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched Federal Court proceedings against owners of a website warning of the so-called health dangers of vaccination.
ACCC allows GPs to set own fees
THE impasse over the ability of GPs to collectively set fees within the same practice has finally been resolved, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission formally giving the AMA authorisation to let practitioners agree on what they charge patients.
ACCC allows GPs to set own fees
THE impasse over the ability of GPs to collectively set fees within the same practice has finally been resolved, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission formally giving the AMA authorisation to let practitioners agree on what they charge patients.
ACCC slashes authorisation period for MA code of conduct
MEDICINES Australia (MA) member companies have been given two years to improve transparency of payments and sponsorship made by pharmaceutical companies to individual healthcare professionals in an ACCC ruling that has also slashed the expected authorisation period for the MA code of conduct.
GPs question ACCC’s proposal to allow set practice fees
DOCTORS have voiced concerns on the MO website about how the Australian Competition Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) proposal to allow GPs in single practices to set practice prices and collectively bargain, would affect service provision for GPs on a Medicare Local contract.
AMA welcomes ACCC draft decision to set practice fees
A DRAFT decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to allow GPs in single practices to set practice prices and collectively bargain has been welcomed by the AMA, after the peak doctor’s body made the application to the competition watchdog.
Pharma can continue to self-regulate
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a draft determination that would let the pharmaceuticals industry self-regulate for another three years, but says it must improve its disclosure of relationships with healthcare professionals.
Price setting to go before UGPA
GP price setting is set to go before the peak general practice body, United General Practice Australia, as the RACGP and the AMA seek to resolve the issue once and for all.
RACGP warns price setting plan to hit morale
AN AMA plan to give its member GPs the right to agree on prices within a practice would undermine GP morale, reduce continuity of care and potentially decrease patient access to care, the RACGP has warned.
Price setting stoush to hit morale: RACGP
AN AMA plan to give its member GPs the right to agree on prices within a practice would undermine GP morale, reduce continuity of care and potentially decrease patient access to care, the RACGP has warned.
Stoush heightens over RACGP opposition to AMA’s exclusivity
The RACGP and the AMA are at odds over national competition law, after the college last week vowed to oppose the association’s push to give its members exclusive rights to collectively set prices.
RACGP lapse leaves thousands of GPs vulnerable to prosecution
THOUSANDS of non-AMA GPs could be exposed to prosecution by the nation’s powerful competition watchdog as the association seeks permission to give members the exclusive right to set prices within a practice.
MA sets up ‘transparency taskforce’ for payments
A NEW “transparency taskforce” has been established by Medicines Australia following a rush of submissions to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) calling for full transparency of industry payments to healthcare professionals.
Bill to make pharma disclose doc payments
GREENS senator Dr Richard Di Natale has confirmed he will introduce legislation forcing drug companies to disclose payments to individual doctors, after Medicines Australia declined to include the measure in its new Code of Conduct.
Greens to introduce drug sponsorship transparency law
GREENS Senator Richard Di Natale has confirmed he will introduce legislation forcing drug companies to disclose payments to individual doctors, after Medicines Australia declined to include the measure in its new Code of Conduct.
Pharma hopes to avoid 'witch hunts' in financial disclosure
PHARMACEUTICAL companies would like to disclose their financial dealings with individual GPs but will consult the profession first to avoid “witch hunts”, according to Medicines Australia CEO Brendan Shaw.
ACCC seeks big penalties for false breast screen claims
TWO breast imaging companies are facing hefty penalties after the consumer watchdog last week accused them of falsely claiming their x-ray alternative could effectively tell if a person was at risk of having cancer.
In tireless pursuit of proof
For decades, Dr Ken Harvey has advocated evidence-based medicine. He talks to Mark O’Brien about the risks versus the rewards of his labours.
Peddlers of false allergy treatment penalised by court
THE Federal Court has imposed penalties totalling $185,000 against two companies and two individuals for making false claims and misleading consumers about their ability to test for and treat allergies. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which instigated the court action against the companies in October last year, each respondent had claimed they could diagnose, treat and/or cure allergies using the 'BioFast allergy elimination program'. Those being assessed through the program had their muscle resistance to pressure measured while holding a vial of the potential allergen. Through this process it was claimed allergens could ...
Vaisman prepares defence for AMI treatments
ADVANCED Medical Institute director Dr Jack Vaisman (PhD) has vowed his company will be exonerated of ACCC allegations that it breached the Trade Practices Act by pressuring “vulnerable” patients suffering erectile dysfunction to buy expensive treatments. The ACCC was recently granted leave by the Federal Court to continue proceedings against AMI, which is still trading despite being placed in administration late last year. Legal proceedings against a company would normally be put on hold during the administration period. However, the court found reason for the action to continue and gave AMI and its sole shareholder, AMI Australia ...
Much longer to last?
Could this be Jack Vaisman’s last stand? Karen Percy reports the king of impotence treatments is ready for battle – again.
ACCC to boost scrutiny of pharmacists and generics industry
RELATIONSHIPS between pharmacists and generic pharmaceutical companies will soon be subject to a high level of scrutiny. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) yesterday announced it planned to grant conditional authorisation to the second edition of the Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) Code of Practice. However, as a condition it will require GMiA members to disclose details about the hospitality and entertainment provided at pharmacist education events. Previously, the code stipulated that members would only be required to report on educational events attended by doctors. “While the ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation, this is ...
Alternative health provider stalled by ACCC injunction
AN alternative health provider has been reined in by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over claims his treatments can prevent or treat cancer. The commission has obtained an injunction from the Brisbane Federal Court against Darryl Jones, principal of the Darryl Jones Health Resolution Centre on the Sunshine Coast, stopping him from making claims about the efficacy of his treatment, and effectively preventing Mr Jones from operating his business. The ACCC alleges that Mr Jones wrote – both on his centre’s website and in an e-book – that he had scientific evidence to show that ...
It's official: Ads banned in practice software
THE Medicines Australia Code of Conduct was yesterday given the final stamp of approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), spelling the official end of brand-name reminders and product advertisements in practice software. The green light for the code comes as the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct Committee released its annual report, showing pharmaceutical companies were hit with a total of $1.42 million in fines in 2008-09. This was down from the $1.83 million recorded in 2007-08. The new Code of Conduct will take effect from 1 January and will significantly tighten regulations around pharmaceutical ...
The current state of play on indemnity
Choosing the right insurance is a difficult and important decision, but this special Medical Observer guide will help make that process easier. Mary Fallon takes you through your indemnity choices. “THE medical indemnity insurance industry seems extremely stable in 2009,” says Ellen Edmonds-Wilson, CEO of the Medical Indemnity Industry Association of Australia (MIIAA). The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has monitored the industry since the collapse of United Medical Protection in 2002, which prompted wide-ranging legislative reforms. During that time, premiums have been deemed fair and justified for the five medical ...
GPs concerned over pathology requests to restrict bulk-billing
GPs have hit out at attempts from pathology providers to recruit them in a bid to scale back bulk-billing services – a move that has also caused friction with consumer groups. Last week it emerged that five leading pathology providers had written separately to GPs asking that they limit bulk-billing requests to patients they believed were financially disadvantaged, including pensioners and healthcare cardholders. The providers said their requests had come as a direct result of cuts to 259 Medicare-funded pathology items announced in the May federal Budget. But the move has raised the ire of consumer groups. ...
Blow for cosmetic surgeons as ACCC rejects draft code
THE Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS) is remaining positive despite the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) rejection of its draft code of conduct. The college, which includes some GP members, is “absolutely confident” it will eventually be accepted by the ACCC. The ACCS is the first medical specialty group to draft and submit a code of conduct and president Dr Daniel Fleming said given this fact, it was understandable the document had to be reworked. “We’re committed to raising standards and this industry is calling out for more transparency for patients,” he said. ...