18 March 2026 - Top Stories

ADHA's establishment of the NCGC-DH to govern digital health and AI enabled care concentrates oversight and raises the bar for EMR vendors.

Governance for digital health is becoming central. The ADHA led NCGC-DH will oversee digital tools, including AI enabled care and virtual care, through three Expert Advisory Groups focused on Better and Faster Access, Virtual Care and Telehealth, and AI Enabled Care. This move presses EMR vendors to align product roadmaps with new governance milestones. For patients and clinicians, it promises clearer safety and interoperability, but adoption could slow while standards mature.

End to end digital pathways are advancing with Telstra Health Smart Connect in MedicalDirector Clinical and linked to Healius Pathology Network through a FHIR native Health Information Exchange. This delivers near real time eRequests and results, a clear win for GPs and patients seeking speed. The downside is rising vendor lock in if more providers do not join the shared network.

Med HELP shows rural GP workforce gains. Evaluation shows about 400 GPs applied and roughly 80 percent stayed in rural practice after relief ends, signalling improved rural access but retention beyond the relief window remains uncertain as family and lifestyle choices influence decisions.

PBACs Wegovy PBS listing plan outlines a slow, targeted rollout prioritising obesity related conditions. Price negotiations will determine subsidised access, shaping who can use GLP 1 therapy in the short term. Health tech executives should see a clearer demand signal for obesity management tools and patient engagement platforms tied to pharmacotherapy, while budgets face ongoing scrutiny.

Fax machines in general practice are being phased out as part of a broader move to digital secure messaging and integrated EHRs. The shift mirrors progress in the UK and Australia, with regulators warning against delays that threaten patient care. Vendors delivering secure transmission and interoperability stand to win, while practices reliant on legacy fax workflows face transition costs and disruption during rollout.

• ADHA established the NCGC-DH to oversee digital health tools — EMR vendors must align roadmaps with new governance milestones from 2026.
• Telstra Health linked Smart Connect to MedicalDirector Clinical and Healius Pathology via a FHIR native Health Information Exchange — GPs gain faster eRequests and secure results, but vendor lock in risk rises.
• Med HELP debt-relief program improved rural GP retention, with about 80 percent staying after relief ends — rural communities gain stability but long term retention remains uncertain.
• PBACs Wegovy PBS listing plan outlines a slow rollout with defined eligibility for obesity therapies, and price negotiations determine subsidised access.
• Phase-out of fax machines in general practice will drive demand for secure messaging and EHR integration while imposing transition costs on practices with legacy systems.
• RACGP disaster preparedness funding bid would provide up to 95 high risk practices with grants and give GPs a seat on disaster committees — digital triage and remote care investments are likely to rise in high risk regions.