A new framework from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care aims to reduce medication errors during patient discharge from hospital. It focuses on better communication between...
Pharmacy groups in Australia want to expand pharmacists' prescribing rights. They submitted a plan to the Pharmacy Board to allow pharmacists to prescribe a wider range of medicines, including Schedul...
The South Australian government has invested $3 million to support lung cancer screening and care. This adds to the national lung cancer screening program that started in July. The focus is on making...
The NSW Government has responded to the recent Drug Summit, supporting most of its 56 recommendations. The summit, held in December, involved over 700 participants and received nearly 3700 submissions...
The RACGP’s Health of the Nation report highlights the importance of GPs in keeping communities healthy. It points out that increasing case complexity and fragmented care threaten the sustainability o...
Pharmacists in Australia are pushing to gain the authority to prescribe all Schedule 4 and 8 medicines independently. They have submitted a joint plan through the Pharmacy Board of Australia, proposin...
As bushfire and flood seasons approach, GPs are encouraged to prepare for disasters. The RACGP released a new resource to help practices assess risks and update emergency plans. Key steps include crea...
The Australian government launched a new bulk-billing program aimed at increasing the number of fully bulk-billing general practices. After nine months of promotion, only 13% of metropolitan practices...
Australia is experiencing a record-breaking flu season with over 425,000 cases confirmed this year. Flu deaths have now surpassed COVID-19 fatalities for the first time since the pandemic’s peak. In A...
The RACGP organised a two-day rural road trip in Western NSW for GP registrars. The trip covered towns like Dubbo, Wellington, Parkes, Forbes, and Condobolin. It aimed to give registrars a real experi...
Recent discussions highlight that adolescent to parent violence is an under-researched but growing concern in Australia. GPs often care for both the young person and the parent affected by violence, w...
From November 1, the Australian government is removing several Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items related to mental health care. Key changes include the abolition of items 2712 and 2713, which cov...
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a shift in respiratory death causes. In August, more Australians died from influenza than COVID-19. Throughout January to August, COVID death...
The article discusses the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) in Australia, which supports doctors in rural and remote areas. Dr Anand Patel and Dr Sujeeth Paulgudi Thiyagarajan share their exper...
The Australian government plans to increase funding for bulk-billing GP visits to improve access. Minister Mark Butler announced that if uptake remains low, the government will intervene by funding ne...
Starting 1 November, major changes to Medicare items will take effect in Australia. The new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) allows practices to receive extra funding if they bulk bill...
The RACGP has launched its 2025 Member Engagement Survey, inviting GPs to share what matters most to them. The survey aims to gather insights from all stages of GP careers. Participants can win prizes...
Australia has lost a key figure in general practice, Emeritus Professor John Murtagh. He passed away at 89 and was widely respected for his contributions to medical education and general practice. Mur...
GPs in Australia are urging policymakers to prioritise mental health in climate change policies. They highlight that climate change is worsening mental health issues, especially among children and you...
The AIHW report shows that in 2023–24, Australia increased hospital spending while primary care investment declined. Hospital costs rose by 1.2% to $113.8 billion, driven by more admissions. Meanwhile...
