Australian health authorities are set to list faecal calprotectin testing on Medicare, making it easier for specialists and GPs to monitor inflammatory bowel disease. The new item will be available fo...
Australia is making progress with healthcare data sharing through the SPARKED FHIR program. The program uses FHIR standards to improve interoperability and data exchange between health systems. A key...
A new process is now open for clinicians and standards experts to suggest updates to the International Patient Summary (IPS). The IPS is a set of standardised clinical data meant to make international...
The RACGP is urging Northern Territory health officials to adopt the needle-free FluMist flu vaccine for children next year. Other Australian states like Western Australia, South Australia, New South...
The Australian government is rolling out the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) on 1 November. Many clinics are still deciding whether to join, as they are crunching their numbers. About...
Optometrists in Australia may soon be allowed to prescribe oral medicines for eye conditions. The proposal aims to improve access, especially in rural areas, by letting optometrists prescribe antibiot...
Recent data shows that over a third of Australian medical students are choosing general practice. This is higher than previous reports and indicates a shift in career preferences. The data covers 21 u...
Many GPs in Australia have mixed feelings about Primary Health Networks (PHNs). Some see them as helpful, others see them as ineffective. A recent review by BCG was criticised for lacking a clear stra...
The Queensland Supreme Court overturned the ban on puberty blockers, ruling that the government failed to follow proper legal processes. The ban had prevented young trans people from accessing treatme...
The NSW government responded to the 2024 Drug Summit report. They supported some recommendations but rejected key proposals like stopping drug detection dogs at festivals. The government plans a new 1...
Dr Sarah Chalmers has become the new president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia. She is based in the Northern Territory and works in remote Aboriginal communities. Her focus is on continu...
Australia's health regulator, AHPRA, is considering allowing optometrists to prescribe oral medicines. Currently, they can diagnose eye conditions and prescribe topical treatments, but not oral drugs....
A NSW bill has been introduced to allow faith-based aged care homes to refuse voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services. The amendment aims to respect the religious beliefs of these facilities, giving t...
Recent NDIA reforms are hurting small allied health businesses across Australia. These changes are making it harder for regional and remote providers to operate. Many are shutting down or reducing ser...
The AMA has released a position paper emphasising the importance of data and digital health in women’s healthcare. It highlights the need for better evidence, sex-disaggregated data, and gender-sensit...
Health Minister Simeon Brown announced an expansion of the AI scribe trial to include 1000 emergency department licences across New Zealand. The AI tool helps doctors by automatically recording consul...
The Professional Services Review (PSR) ordered doctors to repay over $27 million in 2024–25 due to issues like poor record keeping and insufficient clinical input. Most repayments came from negotiated...
The Australian government has added NuvaRing to the PBS from 1 November. This vaginal contraceptive ring will now cost women less, dropping from $270 to $126.40 annually. The price will decrease furth...
The Rural Medicine 2025 conference in Perth celebrated achievements in rural health. Awards highlighted key figures advancing rural generalism and healthcare in remote Australia. Dr Sally Street was r...
The Australian government has added a new contraceptive, NuvaRing, to the PBS. It will be available from 1 November at a significantly reduced cost, dropping from over $270 a year to $31.60 per three-...
