logo
'Now I can help': Newcastle councillor welcomes Lifeblood changes to donation rules

'Now I can help': Newcastle councillor welcomes Lifeblood changes to donation rules

The Advertiser16-07-2025
GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors.
As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help.
"Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said.
"Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair."
As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations.
The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives.
For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months.
Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward.
"I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said.
"They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute."
Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply.
In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week.
Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship.
Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community.
"I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said.
"Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important."
The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year.
The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period.
Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors.
"The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said.
"Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too.
"Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give."
Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma.
Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply.
"While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said.
Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules.
The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year.
Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood.
Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients.
Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available.
"There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said.
"We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year."
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.
GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors.
As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help.
"Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said.
"Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair."
As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations.
The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives.
For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months.
Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward.
"I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said.
"They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute."
Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply.
In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week.
Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship.
Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community.
"I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said.
"Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important."
The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year.
The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period.
Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors.
"The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said.
"Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too.
"Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give."
Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma.
Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply.
"While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said.
Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules.
The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year.
Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood.
Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients.
Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available.
"There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said.
"We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year."
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.
GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors.
As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help.
"Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said.
"Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair."
As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations.
The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives.
For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months.
Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward.
"I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said.
"They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute."
Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply.
In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week.
Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship.
Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community.
"I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said.
"Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important."
The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year.
The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period.
Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors.
"The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said.
"Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too.
"Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give."
Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma.
Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply.
"While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said.
Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules.
The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year.
Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood.
Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients.
Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available.
"There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said.
"We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year."
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.
GROWING up, Newcastle Labor councillor Declan Clausen heard Lifeblood's calls for donors.
As a gay man, he wasn't allowed to help.
"Not because my blood wasn't safe, but because of outdated rules rooted in stereotypes and stigma," he said.
"Being denied the opportunity to help others in need has always felt deeply unfair."
As of this week, he can make his first plasma donation after Australian Red Cross Lifeblood removed most sexual activity wait times for life-saving plasma donations.
The change means many gay and bisexual men, transgender people, sex workers, and people on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can now help save lives.
For decades, donor rules prevented many people from the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker communities from donating plasma if they had sex within the past three months.
Cr Clausen has long championed reform, and said the changes introduced this week were a major step forward.
"I've always believed that blood donation policies should be based on actual risk, not outdated assumptions tied to identity," he said.
"They [the changes] recognise the science, and will finally allow thousands of Australians, including me, to contribute."
Plasma, the "liquid gold" part of blood, is the donation type most needed by Australian patients, with treatment for more than 50 medical conditions reliant on its supply.
In Newcastle and Maitland alone, about 100 plasma donors are still needed every day, seven days a week.
Newcastle Pride committee member Krys Sutton has been in a long-term, committed relationship.
Mr Sutton said he was disappointed he could not donate when Lifeblood put the call out, and expected it would take time for trust to be rebuilt with the LGBTQIA+ community.
"I think it's something that everyone should do because they can, and it's free," he said.
"Once the legislation changes [around blood donations], we can come through and do this, be part of the community and give back. I think that's really important."
The new rules mean about 625,000 Australians may become eligible to donate plasma, and Lifeblood expects about 95,000 extra plasma donations will be made each year.
The changes mean those on PrEP will become the first in the world to donate plasma without a wait period.
Cr Clausen said what made Australia's system particularly special was that it relied on the generosity of voluntary, unpaid donors.
"The need is real, and now that I'm eligible, I'm proud to help," he said.
"Once the broader changes to blood donation rules come into effect next year, I absolutely intend to donate blood too.
"Donating blood and plasma to help save lives shouldn't depend on who you love. It should depend only on whether you're healthy and willing to give."
Over the next 12 months, Lifeblood estimates an extra 24,000 donors will give plasma.
Lifeblood chief executive officer Stephen Cornelissen said patient safety would always be Lifeblood's top priority, and that extensive research and modelling had shown the changes can be implemented without compromising the safety of Australia's blood supply.
"While the rules were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know they have contributed to the stigma faced by many and hope today will be a turning point for Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community and that people will feel welcome to come forward to donate their life-saving plasma," he said.
Lifeblood has made changes to blood and platelets donation eligibility, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approving a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules.
The changes, known as gender-neutral assessments, are expected to be introduced next year.
Once implemented, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender or sexuality, and most people in a sexual relationship of six months or more with a single partner will be eligible to donate blood.
Lifeblood's chief medical officer, Jo Pink, said its submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed, for now, a six-month wait was the safest option for Australian patients.
Dr Pink said Lifeblood was committed to reviewing the wait as more evidence became available.
"There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire," she said.
"We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year."
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au or download the Donate Blood App.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bloody Good Tour aims to save lives and beat blood donation record
Bloody Good Tour aims to save lives and beat blood donation record

ABC News

time2 hours ago

  • ABC News

Bloody Good Tour aims to save lives and beat blood donation record

Simon Braun is out for blood. Quite literally. The father of three has spent the past year driving around the country with his kids, visiting the nearly 80 Lifeblood centres across Australia. "Simmo" said he hoped to enlist more than 33,000 new blood donations, donating plasma himself about every fortnight. But tens of thousands of kilometres in a caravan, distance education, and regular donations have not drained him. "Donating blood energises me," he said. Donating blood has been a constant bright spot through Mr Braun's challenges. He recalled sitting in the donor chair during a "dark time" in his life, and feeling "genuinely happy" for the first time in a long time. He joined the dots. There have long been barriers to blood donation for many people. This month, Lifeblood relaxed its rules around sexual activity and donation. Gay and bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men were allowed to donate plasma. Lifeblood said it was working towards similar changes for whole blood and platelet donation. In 2022, people who were in the UK during the "mad cow disease" outbreak were allowed to donate again after a 22-year ban. Lifeblood researcher Rachel Thorpe said while safety for donors and recipients was the priority, the organisation hoped to get as many people as possible in the blood donation chair. "Ultimately we would like more people to be eligible to donate blood," she said. Being in the regions has also stopped people donating, with Lifeblood centres concentrated in cities. WA has no permanent centres north of Perth, and the NT's only permanent centre is in Darwin. There are pop up centres in some regional towns, and Lifeblood also has mobile "blood buses" to allow country people to donate. But ultimately, cities and regional centres have the most potential with 90 per cent of Australians living within half an hour of a donor centre. And for people who could not regularly donate, Dr Thorpe said having people such as Mr Braun start the conversation was a big help. "A lot of people don't really talk about blood donation, it's one of the big barriers to donating blood," she said. Dr Thorpe said common "misunderstandings" often stopped people donating. One of those was people believing they were too old to donate — a myth Dr Thorpe was keen to bust. Australians can be a first-time donor until they are 75, and if they have already donated in the past, there is no upper age limit. Fear of needles has been another common setback. But Mr Braun said that was not necessarily a bad problem to have. "It's actually quite a privilege to be able to, with courage, face your fear head-on," he said. He encouraged nervous donors to keep recipients front of mind. "Maybe that's the five-year-old with leukaemia who doesn't get a choice about whether they get the needle or not," he said. But in the thousands of conversations Mr Braun has had about blood donation in the past year, the common theme was not fear, or lack of information, or distance. It was time. "Everybody's busy these days," he said. "In fact, you ask someone how they are and they say 'busy'." His answer to the dilemma was simple. "A blood donation takes maybe seven minutes with a needle in the arm for whole blood, and you're in and out in half an hour," he said. Mr Braun and his family have been documenting each leg of their journey on The Bloody Good Tour website. The culmination of the tour will be a national record attempt on July 31. Mr Braun will be donating in Sydney, where the tour wraps up. But he has asked people from all over the country to sign up to his donor team, to reach the most donations in a single day by one team. The number to beat is 523: a record set by Commonwealth Bank employees in May. "With a bit of cheek, we can't let a bank hold the record," Mr Braun said.

Australia called to lift on global health as US yields
Australia called to lift on global health as US yields

The Advertiser

time3 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Australia called to lift on global health as US yields

Australia must come to the party with more money to combat climate-related health issues, antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics. That's the bottom line of research that indicates the well-off nation is not pulling enough weight on the world stage to understand, anticipate and respond to emerging international health threats. The Australian government spent just under $630 billion on health between 2017 and 2023, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Global Health Alliance. About $35 billion was directed to health and medical research but just $2 billion was specifically set aside for global research. The country must increase and realign its funding to address and anticipate global health challenges more effectively, the report said. "Despite commendable efforts, Australia's investment in global health research lags behind its international peers," it said. "Key areas such as the impact of climate change on health, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness are notably underfunded." Alliance executive director Selina Namchee Lo said the global scientific community was successful in rapidly delivering vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But where it fell short was equity, with some of the hardest-hit countries missing out. "What we're saying is equity is not optional for global health," Dr Lo told AAP. Another report, also commissioned by the alliance with Pacific Friends of Global Health, detailed the impact of two Australian-backed global public private partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Australia has collectively poured more than $2.5 billion into The Global Fund and Gavi since 2000, helping to immunise more than 100 million children and save lives in the region. But the country's level of foreign aid has been been in "significant decline" since 2012, stagnating at $US3 billion annually over the past seven years. The multilateral aid landscape is "under pressure" after the US and UK reduced their commitments, the report said. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development, cutting funding to its aid programs worldwide. Dr Lo, who has nearly three decades experience in global and international health, said the abrupt exit of USAID left communities "in the lurch". "It's never good to have one group, whether it's a philanthropist or a country, be a monopoly," she said. "Because when they pull out, this is what happens." The Indo-Pacific still accounts for 25 per cent of global infections, with 6.7 million people in the region living with HIV and malaria rampant in Papua New Guinea. Pacific Friends of Global Health chair Brendan Crabb wants Australia to take up the mantle. "As the US administration dramatically steps back from global health leadership, Australia has a critical opportunity to convene and partner with Asia Pacific countries to advance the health priorities of the region," the Burnet Institute chief executive said. Australia must come to the party with more money to combat climate-related health issues, antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics. That's the bottom line of research that indicates the well-off nation is not pulling enough weight on the world stage to understand, anticipate and respond to emerging international health threats. The Australian government spent just under $630 billion on health between 2017 and 2023, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Global Health Alliance. About $35 billion was directed to health and medical research but just $2 billion was specifically set aside for global research. The country must increase and realign its funding to address and anticipate global health challenges more effectively, the report said. "Despite commendable efforts, Australia's investment in global health research lags behind its international peers," it said. "Key areas such as the impact of climate change on health, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness are notably underfunded." Alliance executive director Selina Namchee Lo said the global scientific community was successful in rapidly delivering vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But where it fell short was equity, with some of the hardest-hit countries missing out. "What we're saying is equity is not optional for global health," Dr Lo told AAP. Another report, also commissioned by the alliance with Pacific Friends of Global Health, detailed the impact of two Australian-backed global public private partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Australia has collectively poured more than $2.5 billion into The Global Fund and Gavi since 2000, helping to immunise more than 100 million children and save lives in the region. But the country's level of foreign aid has been been in "significant decline" since 2012, stagnating at $US3 billion annually over the past seven years. The multilateral aid landscape is "under pressure" after the US and UK reduced their commitments, the report said. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development, cutting funding to its aid programs worldwide. Dr Lo, who has nearly three decades experience in global and international health, said the abrupt exit of USAID left communities "in the lurch". "It's never good to have one group, whether it's a philanthropist or a country, be a monopoly," she said. "Because when they pull out, this is what happens." The Indo-Pacific still accounts for 25 per cent of global infections, with 6.7 million people in the region living with HIV and malaria rampant in Papua New Guinea. Pacific Friends of Global Health chair Brendan Crabb wants Australia to take up the mantle. "As the US administration dramatically steps back from global health leadership, Australia has a critical opportunity to convene and partner with Asia Pacific countries to advance the health priorities of the region," the Burnet Institute chief executive said. Australia must come to the party with more money to combat climate-related health issues, antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics. That's the bottom line of research that indicates the well-off nation is not pulling enough weight on the world stage to understand, anticipate and respond to emerging international health threats. The Australian government spent just under $630 billion on health between 2017 and 2023, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Global Health Alliance. About $35 billion was directed to health and medical research but just $2 billion was specifically set aside for global research. The country must increase and realign its funding to address and anticipate global health challenges more effectively, the report said. "Despite commendable efforts, Australia's investment in global health research lags behind its international peers," it said. "Key areas such as the impact of climate change on health, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness are notably underfunded." Alliance executive director Selina Namchee Lo said the global scientific community was successful in rapidly delivering vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But where it fell short was equity, with some of the hardest-hit countries missing out. "What we're saying is equity is not optional for global health," Dr Lo told AAP. Another report, also commissioned by the alliance with Pacific Friends of Global Health, detailed the impact of two Australian-backed global public private partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Australia has collectively poured more than $2.5 billion into The Global Fund and Gavi since 2000, helping to immunise more than 100 million children and save lives in the region. But the country's level of foreign aid has been been in "significant decline" since 2012, stagnating at $US3 billion annually over the past seven years. The multilateral aid landscape is "under pressure" after the US and UK reduced their commitments, the report said. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development, cutting funding to its aid programs worldwide. Dr Lo, who has nearly three decades experience in global and international health, said the abrupt exit of USAID left communities "in the lurch". "It's never good to have one group, whether it's a philanthropist or a country, be a monopoly," she said. "Because when they pull out, this is what happens." The Indo-Pacific still accounts for 25 per cent of global infections, with 6.7 million people in the region living with HIV and malaria rampant in Papua New Guinea. Pacific Friends of Global Health chair Brendan Crabb wants Australia to take up the mantle. "As the US administration dramatically steps back from global health leadership, Australia has a critical opportunity to convene and partner with Asia Pacific countries to advance the health priorities of the region," the Burnet Institute chief executive said. Australia must come to the party with more money to combat climate-related health issues, antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics. That's the bottom line of research that indicates the well-off nation is not pulling enough weight on the world stage to understand, anticipate and respond to emerging international health threats. The Australian government spent just under $630 billion on health between 2017 and 2023, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Global Health Alliance. About $35 billion was directed to health and medical research but just $2 billion was specifically set aside for global research. The country must increase and realign its funding to address and anticipate global health challenges more effectively, the report said. "Despite commendable efforts, Australia's investment in global health research lags behind its international peers," it said. "Key areas such as the impact of climate change on health, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness are notably underfunded." Alliance executive director Selina Namchee Lo said the global scientific community was successful in rapidly delivering vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. But where it fell short was equity, with some of the hardest-hit countries missing out. "What we're saying is equity is not optional for global health," Dr Lo told AAP. Another report, also commissioned by the alliance with Pacific Friends of Global Health, detailed the impact of two Australian-backed global public private partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Australia has collectively poured more than $2.5 billion into The Global Fund and Gavi since 2000, helping to immunise more than 100 million children and save lives in the region. But the country's level of foreign aid has been been in "significant decline" since 2012, stagnating at $US3 billion annually over the past seven years. The multilateral aid landscape is "under pressure" after the US and UK reduced their commitments, the report said. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development, cutting funding to its aid programs worldwide. Dr Lo, who has nearly three decades experience in global and international health, said the abrupt exit of USAID left communities "in the lurch". "It's never good to have one group, whether it's a philanthropist or a country, be a monopoly," she said. "Because when they pull out, this is what happens." The Indo-Pacific still accounts for 25 per cent of global infections, with 6.7 million people in the region living with HIV and malaria rampant in Papua New Guinea. Pacific Friends of Global Health chair Brendan Crabb wants Australia to take up the mantle. "As the US administration dramatically steps back from global health leadership, Australia has a critical opportunity to convene and partner with Asia Pacific countries to advance the health priorities of the region," the Burnet Institute chief executive said.

'Not up for negotiation': Aussies expected to save $200m a year from major cap on PBS-listed scripts despite tariff threats to industry
'Not up for negotiation': Aussies expected to save $200m a year from major cap on PBS-listed scripts despite tariff threats to industry

Sky News AU

time4 hours ago

  • Sky News AU

'Not up for negotiation': Aussies expected to save $200m a year from major cap on PBS-listed scripts despite tariff threats to industry

Millions of Australians are expected to save $200m in vital medication fees as a landmark bill caps the price of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions at just $25, down from $31.60. The bill is set to take effect from January 1, as the Labor government takes the first steps to legislate the bill and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vows to keep his election pledge on cost of living relief. The changes mean the cost of medicines on the PBS could be significantly reduced by over 20 per cent. Minister for Health, Mark Butler said five million Australians will feel the relief in their pockets. The cost of medicine for pension and concession card holders will remain frozen at $7.70 until the end of 2029. The bill which was announced by Labor during the May election campaign is expected to cost the budget $690m over four years. Mr Albanese said it built on a pledge for cost of living relief. 'This is another example of cost of living relief that helps every Australian,' he said. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare. My government will continue to deliver cost of living relief for all Australians.' Mr Butler added general patients' medicines haven't been this cheap since 2004. 'The Albanese Government has been focused on delivering cheaper medicines for Australians," he said. 'Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health." The Assistant Health Minister, Emma McBride said the bill was set to pass despite US President Donald Trump's 200 per cent tariff threat on pharmaceutical imports. The US is Australia's biggest pharmaceutical export market and if the tariff is implemented it could cost the Australian economy up to $2.8 billion and force pharmas' to hike up their prices. However, Ms McBride said the PBS is not up for negotiation and "it is not a bargaining chip". "Labor introduced the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to make sure that essential medicines were available to all Australians, and with this introduction of legislation to enact our election commitment, it will mean a cap on $25, which will save Australians about $200 million a year, 5.1 million Australians estimated to benefit," she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store