UNCERTAINTY surrounding the future direction of the Federal Governments immunisation advisory body has increased with the surprise resignation of its founding chairman, Professor George Rubin.Professor Rubin quit his post as chairman of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) after seven years, citing recent changes to the groups function, as well as a lack of consultation about those changes, as influencing his decision.Significant changes to ATAGIs function including removal of its funding advisory role to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee were announced in the 2005/06 federal budget, but Professor Rubin was only informed of the changes after the decision was made.A spokeswoman for Federal Health Minister Mr Tony Abbott defended the lack of consultation about the changes,...
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