Medicines Australia COVID-19 Update

Medicines Australia
COVID-19 Update

23 September 2020

Dear Health Consumer Organisation Leads,

We have changed the frequency of these e-newsletters to fortnightly and changed the distribution date to a Wednesday. We hope you are still finding these valuable and informative. Please reach out if you would like us to include any articles etc.

Last week we launched the Continuity of Care Collaboration (CCC) #DontWaitMate public health campaign to encourage Australians to re-engage with their health..

Australians are generally not maintaining their routine healthcare during the pandemic. This is worrying because preventable chronic diseases and cancers that might ordinarily be diagnosed early may go undetected and untreated, creating a far greater public health threat than COVID-19.

The Continuity of Care Collaboration is aunique collaboration of Peak Bodies, Industry and Healthcare Organisations advocating for people to continue with their health management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are asking for HCOs to join the #DontWaitMate campaign by recording a #DontWaitMate selfie video or photo highlighting the need to engage in healthcare – it is safe and important to do so – Here is the social media toolkit.

Parliamentary colleagues have been supporting the campaign via social media videos including Chris Bowen MP, Rowan Ramsey MP, and Dr Katie Allen MP.

Please help us by supporting the #DontWaitMate campaign.

Industry Update for the Community

Follow MA on your social networks for the most up-to-date information:

Twitter - @MedicinesAus
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/medicines-australia

• Navigating COVID-19 and Beyond program: We’ve heard you and understand that right now the biggest challenges you're facing include fundraising and financial management. In response, we’ve developed a multi partnership approach with experts in the field to provide two education streams as part of the Navigating COVID19 & Beyond program:

Maximising Cash Generation (NEW)

Developed by PwC, this program will provide guidance on how you can significantly increase cash by simply reallocating resources and effort into more impactful cash generation initiatives. It’s about helping you to identify which initiatives are impactful and which ones are not!

Join PwC's Wil Honner for one webinar to discuss ways you can maximise cash generation for your organisation including:

• Changing financial reporting to promote good financial decisions

• Segmenting cash generation initiatives into "winners" and "losers" and reallocating resources accordingly

• Driving cash generation culture change

• Insourcing and outsourcing - how to determine best approach

Date: Thursday 8 October 2020 @ 12pm– 1.30pm AEST Register here

Social Media & Digital Fundraising

On Tuesday we launched the Hancock Creative series, it is not too late to register for this very practical course that will tell you everything you need to know about transitioning your fundraising online! Register here

The Navigating COVID19 & Beyond program is fully funded by Medicines Australia and its members.

• The next Continuity of Care Collaboration webinar - “Preventative Health” will be held on Friday 25th September, 11am-12pm and is open to all HCPs, Industry, patients, consumers and interested general public. Register here.

• Australian formally joins global COVAX Facility partnership to ensure COVID-19 vaccine.

• Discover the three crucial steps you need to take when it comes to safely and correctly managing your medicine at home.

• Changes to PBS for Palliative Care Opioids restrictions a major relief: Recent changes made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which will optimise appropriate access to analgesic opioid medications for palliative care patients.

Developments in Healthcare Sector

• CSIRO: Engaging consumers in health research: a narrative review.

• Coronavirus vaccine trials: Are patients ahead of the curve?

• Participate in research and help to prevent, treat and find cures for disease. Sign up to be matched with research studies. Join Us.

HCO's Update

• Atrial Fibrillation Awareness (AF) Week 2020 kicked off on Monday. AF have launched the new Feel the Beat app which allows people to do a heart check from their home. If you're reading this on your smartphone, you can download the app here. Atrial Fibrillation causes 6000 strokes every year, so it is really important to raise awareness. Here's a link to their Social Media Pack.Don’t forget to tag @hearts4heart #FeelThe Beat and #AFAwarenessWeek. For more information visit Heart4hearts.

Tools and Resources

• It is important for not-for-profits and community organisations build an understanding of online security issues. Register for free webinar on Tuesday 6 October 1-2pm here.

• BoardSource, a leader in Not-For-Profit board leadership, answers some of the most common questions they are seeing in their sector and provides helpful resources.

• Here is a simple video demonstrating how vaccines are made.

We want to hear from you

Please reach out to us if you would like to include any articles in these updates. Please email Petrina Keogh.

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