12 March 2026 - Top Stories

NSW Health and eHealth NSW have inked a bold push: more than 450 AI initiatives will be woven into clinical workflows across public hospitals. The ambition spans radiology, triage, and remote monitoring, with governance that requires measurable safety and performance evidence before scale. For Australian health tech executives, this means procurement choices must prioritise validated algorithms, clear use cases, and robust post-implementation reviews rather than hype.

The latest Mapping the Digital Gap 2025 report shows 41 per cent of First Nations Australians face digital exclusion, with higher rates in remote communities. That reality limits reliance on telehealth and digital care unless platforms work offline or at low bandwidth. The implication for health systems is straightforward: invest in reliable connectivity, interoperable data, and digital tools that function when the internet is unreliable.

Guild-endorsed reforms to pharmacist prescribing could change field dynamics. The move contemplates pharmacists prescribing Schedule 2 to 8 medicines, demanding that EMR and pharmacy software implement standardised prescribing workflows and audit trails. If credentialing is consistent nationwide, rural and aged-care settings gain speed and access; if not, uneven rollout creates pockets of underutilisation and confusion.

Western NSW Local Health District's Virtual Support program now operates in 35 rural hospitals, using remote monitoring to generate alerts and guide timely escalation. Early indications point to safer patient journeys and greater system efficiency, but success hinges on reliable connectivity and smooth data integration into local clinical workflows.

NSW ED attendances reached 820,009 in the December 2025 quarter, underscoring ongoing capacity strain. That pressure heightens the case for scaling digital triage, virtual care, and community-based alternatives to reduce avoidable ED visits and speed up discharges.

• NSW Health and eHealth NSW rolled out 450 AI initiatives across the system, pressuring vendors to deliver governance-aligned, validated AI modules.
• Mapping the Digital Gap 2025 reveals 41 per cent digital exclusion among First Nations Australians, forcing investment in offline telehealth options and reliable digital infrastructure.
• Pharmacist prescriber endorsement is being considered to allow pharmacists to manage Schedule 2 to 8 medicines, pushing EMR and pharmacy software to standardise prescribing workflows.
• Virtual Support across 35 rural NSW hospitals uses real-time monitoring and alerts to raise patient safety and improve efficiency.
• NSW ED attendances reached 820,009 in Q4 2025, underscoring capacity constraints and the need for scalable digital triage and alternative care pathways.
• University of Queensland researchers developed the SAFE score to help GPs triage endometriosis risk, influencing referral patterns in primary care.