Letters

Can the government afford to supply dental care to the whole Australian population?

Leonard A Crocombe BDSc,PhD, MBA

In reply: There are solutions that don’t rely on integrating dental health into Medicare

Lesley M Russell BSc(Hons), BA, PhD

Long-term rural undergraduate training also encourages city students to consider a country practice

Mark H Arnold MB BS, FRACP, MBeth

In reply: Consider an increase in the proportion of medical students with a rural background

Geoffrey C Nicholson PhD, FRACP, FRCP · Srinivas Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan MB BS, MPH, FRSPH

Direct-acting antiviral agents are expensive, but offer a chance of cure

William Sievert MD, FRACP · Homie Razavi PhD · Alexander Thompson MB BS(Hons), PhD, FRACP · Amany Zekry MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Gregory J Dore MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Stuart Keith Roberts MD, FRACP, FAASLD

Even small fees affect poor people's access to health services

Joel Lexchin MD

In reply: The findings of the Canadian experiment cannot be extrapolated to the Australian copayment debate

Michael Keane BM BS, FANZCA

The pitfalls in assessing patients’ decision-making capacity

Peter D Bastian MB BS, MPH, FRACP · Adeleen Eng MB BS · Linley A Denson MPsych, PhD · Lynn Ward PhD

Psychological and behavioural interventions that focus on building coping skills, resilience and a healthy lifestyle are important

Patrick D McGorry MD, PhD, FRANZCP · Debra J Rickwood BA(Hons), PhD, FAPS · Ian B Hickie MD, FRANZCP, FASSA

In reply: Evidence is needed that medical intervention does more good than harm for less than severe impairment

Jon N Jureidini MB BS, PhD, FRANZCP

A position statement from Coeliac Australia’s Medical Advisory Committee scrutinises the technology used in currently available kits

Evan D Newnham Jason A Tye-Din on behalf of the Coeliac Australia Medical Advisory Committee

This topic has garnered increased recognition in the eye care community

Enis D Kocak MB BS, BBiomedSci · Justin C Sherwin MB BS(Hons), BMedSc(Hons), MPhil · Anthony J Hall MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Use of diversionary devices, such as the flash-bang grenades used in the Sydney siege, comes with risks to vision and hearing

Annette K Hoskin BOptom, MBA · Marcus D Atlas MB BS, FRACS · David A Mackey MD, FRANZCO

Tantalising possibility of nationwide elimination of malaria in Solomon Islands

Harin Karunajeewa MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Andreea Waltmann · Lyndes Wini · Ivo Mueller

Placement in rural general practices is a key part of medical student training

David Garne MB ChB, DCH, MIPH(Hons) · Ian G Wilson FRACGP, MAssessEval, PhD

There is a significant body of evidence demonstrating effectiveness of telemonitoring in improving CHF outcomes

Sally C Inglis PhD, BHSc(Hons), BN · Robyn A Clark PhD, FACN, FAHA

In reply: Further research on the benefits and application of telehealth would be welcomed

Karen Page RN, DN, BEd

Governments must strengthen regulations to break the nexus between alcohol advertising and sport

Brian Vandenberg MPH, BA(Hons), BAppSci · Kathryn E Chapman BSc, MNutrDiet

Firearms control in Australia is not the responsibility of the medical profession

Matthew M Large BSc(Med), MB BS, FRANZCP

In reply: Doctors will use their clinical judgement to identify patients whose access to firearms poses a risk

Anne P F Wand MB BS, MPsych, FRANZCP · Carmelle Peisah MB BS(Hons), MD, FRANZCP

Addressing a critical period with thoughtful research and imagination

Murray G Williams

A more comprehensive evaluation of outcomes is needed

Karyn E Alexander MB ChB, MPH · Bianca Brijnath PhD, BA(Hons) · Danielle Mazza MD, FRACGP, DRANZCOG

Long-term follow-up is essential

Rae Thomas PhD · Christopher B Del Mar MD, FRACGP, FAFPHM

PCR diagnoses more cases of measles and mumps in vaccinated people than serological testing

David J Speers FRACP, FRCPA, FACTM · Gary K Dowse MSc, DTMH, FAFPHM

Restricting off-label use of this drug is not in the interests of breastfeeding women and their babies

Luke E Grzeskowiak PhD, BPharm(Hons), GradCertClinEpid · Lisa H Amir MB BS, MMed, PhD