Pulse
Daily clinical commentary
What just happened in the medical-news cycle, and what it means for Australian patients. AU primary tier first. Every post closes with an explicit Yes / Maybe verdict based on the evidence available.
463 posts published.
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Australia's melanoma risk calculators mostly underestimate your true risk
A large Australian cohort study validated six melanoma risk tools and found most underestimate absolute risk — useful for ranking, not for precise predictions.
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Chronic condition management cap may rise from 5 to 12 visits per year
The MBS Review Advisory Committee recommends tripling annual allied health chronic condition visits — a draft proposal open for public feedback right now.
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One in three infants diagnosed with peanut allergy may not have it
An Australian multicentre study found 35% of infants with a peanut allergy diagnosis tolerated supervised peanut challenge — rediagnosis is worth seeking.
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Cortisol is not causing your symptoms, experts say
Two Australian specialists say cortisol spikes are normal and rarely cause harm — chronic stress is the problem, not the hormone itself.
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2 million Australians skip specialist care each year: inquiry
A parliamentary inquiry: almost 2 million Australians skip specialist care each year, as out-of-pocket costs top $4 billion — up 75% since 2019.
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Victorian GPs can now prescribe ADHD stimulants without a permit
Victorian GPs can prescribe ADHD stimulants without a Schedule 8 permit from December 2026, if a valid specialist treatment instruction is in place.
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DoxyPEP halved syphilis and cut chlamydia by a third in Australian data
National data from 29 services shows doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis guidance slashed syphilis by 55% and chlamydia by 35% over two years.
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Australia leads the world in eating disorder rates — and GPs are missing cases
A JAMA Psychiatry analysis shows Australia has four times the global eating disorder rate. Experts urge GPs to screen patients who don't fit the stereotype.
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TGA approves Australia's first oral GLP-1 weight-loss tablet
Wegovy is now approved as a once-daily tablet in Australia after TGA clearance, but PBS subsidy for obesity is not yet available.
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Semaglutide: a fourth pillar in diabetic kidney disease
GPs are navigating how to use semaglutide alongside existing drugs as a fourth evidence-based layer of kidney protection in type 2 diabetes.
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TGA tightens sunscreen rules after SPF testing failures
Australia's regulator is reforming sunscreen testing and SPF claim rules after laboratory checks found some products fell short of their advertised protection.
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Paid reproductive leave: what the NES inquiry is weighing
A federal review of National Employment Standards is weighing 10 days of paid leave for miscarriage, period pain, fertility treatment and menopause.
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Chlamydia and gonorrhoea missed in women on opioid treatment
Australian data finds only one-third of women on opioid treatment were ever STI-tested, yet positivity rates when tested are high — a GP-level care gap.
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New Medicare developmental check for three-year-olds starts today
Medicare's Thriving Kids program launches a GP-delivered developmental screening check for three-year-olds from 1 November 2026, with important caveats.
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Buruli ulcer: Victoria records 426 cases as summer season opens
Flesh-eating Mycobacterium ulcerans infections hit a Victorian record last year. Mosquito and possum exposure drive risk as summer begins — what to know.
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SA meningococcal surge: 22nd case in 2026, half of eligible unvaccinated
A young adult is on life support in Adelaide — SA's 22nd meningococcal case this year. Only half of eligible South Australians are vaccinated for MenB.
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Pelvic pain clinics go into schools: tackling the 6.5-year diagnosis gap
A federally funded NSW clinic visits classrooms to teach students about endometriosis and pelvic pain — and self-referrals to the clinic have followed.
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Pausing biologics for covid boosters: no antibody gain, double the flare risk
An RCT of 840 patients shows pausing biologics or JAK inhibitors after a covid booster gives no antibody benefit but more than doubles inflammatory flare risk.
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Medicare chronic care cap may triple to 12 — here is what that means
A draft MRAC report proposes tripling chronic condition management appointments from 5 to 12 per year. About a third of patients currently hit the cap.
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Thunderstorm asthma season opens: what the weekend warning means
Victoria's CHO issued a thunderstorm asthma alert for 31 October. The risk group is broader than a diagnosed-asthma history — here is who, why, and what to do.
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Australia ranks first globally for anorexia and bulimia: JAMA study
Global Burden of Disease analysis in JAMA Psychiatry found Australia has the world's highest rates of anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
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Personalised mRNA melanoma vaccine cuts recurrence risk by 42%
Phase 3 trial led by Melanoma Institute Australia found adding intismeran to pembrolizumab cut melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42%.
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First confirmed Australian peptide death: coroner urges TGA review
Coroner found actor Richard Norton's death was triggered by unapproved peptides, recommending TGA consider tighter restrictions on access.
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ACT allergy waitlist clears 1,000 children — GPs left to fill gap
Canberra Health Services removed about 1,000 children from its paediatric allergy waitlist, including some with anaphylaxis, redirecting them to GPs.
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AHPRA and ATO crack down on super access fraud — GPs face $30k penalties
The ATO has conducted 160+ audits since July 2025 and imposed $1.5M in penalties targeting practitioners who falsify compassionate super release reports.
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Victorian election GP platform: payroll tax, Chemist Care Now, MATOD
RACGP Victoria's pre-election asks include GP payroll tax exemption, an independent evaluation of Chemist Care Now, and MATOD prescribing incentives.
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Dementia now causes one in 10 Australian deaths — what it means
ABS 2025 data show dementia crossed the 10% threshold for the first time, cementing its position as Australia's leading cause of death.
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New MBS phone items for chronic condition management — November 2026
Four new MBS phone/video items for chronic condition management reviews start 1 November, alongside a Healthy Kids Check and expanded telehealth access.
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WA country councils are paying millions to keep their local doctors
Rural WA residents pay for GP care three times — Medicare levy, consultation fees, and council rates — as a new report maps the deepening rural GP crisis.
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Female GPs are burning out faster — and it shapes your care
The RACGP's 2026 Health of the Nation report finds female GPs are less satisfied with their jobs than men for the first time, with burnout rates at 65%.
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Pharmacy UTI and contraception prescribing expands to all women from January
Pharmacy UTI and contraception prescribing expands to all Australian women from January, despite RACGP concerns about evidence and LARC underuse.
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TGA to overhaul sunscreen SPF testing after scandal — but gaps remain
TGA proposes mandatory SPF retesting for sunscreens after 80% of tested products failed label claims — but results won't be made public.
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Micro-breaks plus planning: the burnout profile most workers never use
A UQ study found micro-breaks paired with work planning is the most effective burnout-prevention profile — but used in only 6% of hours analysed.
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One in three Victorian homicides linked to psychosis, doctors warn
Victorian data show 1 in 3 homicides in 2024-25 involved psychosis — a fourfold rise from a decade ago. Experts call it a preventable policy failure.
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Thriving Kids begins: free Medicare child development checks from November
A $2 billion program replaces NDIS for children 8 and under with low-moderate needs. Free Medicare Healthy Kids Check starts 1 November 2026.
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E-scooter hospitalisations tripled in 5 years: the AIHW numbers
New AIHW data show 15 hospitalisations per 100,000 Australians from e-scooter falls in 2024-25, with ICU admissions up more than fourfold since 2015-16.
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Usman Khawaja's 17-year RA: what autoimmune arthritis actually looks like
The former Test cricketer played 88 Tests with rheumatoid arthritis. In Australia, RA affects about 2% of adults — three times more women than men.
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T1D doesn't stop at year two: the school funding gap WA parents are fighting
A WA petition heads to parliament to remove a year-two cut-off on school T1D support — raising questions about CGM burden and 24/7 management.
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First Nations Australians three times less likely to get a kidney transplant
Only 16% of First Nations people on kidney replacement therapy receive a transplant, versus 48% for non-Indigenous Australians. A new documentary asks why.
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World-first mRNA melanoma vaccine: what the phase 3 results mean
Australian-led trial of personalised mRNA vaccine intismeran shows 42% reduction in melanoma recurrence when added to pembrolizumab immunotherapy.
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Data gaps hide the suicide risk facing children in out-of-home care
Children in care face over three times the suicide attempt rate of other young people. ABC News maps how patchy national data obscures the true scale.
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TGA expands MS-2 Step: missed miscarriage and 70-day limit
TGA has approved MS-2 Step for missed miscarriage and extended the gestational limit to 70 days — two meaningful changes for Australian women and GPs.
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Penicillin 'allergy' labels: GPs now cleared to test and remove them
New ASCIA guidelines let GPs do low-risk oral penicillin challenges in practice. Around 2.8 million Australians carry a label that is wrong in most cases.
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Postpartum psychosis: women contact services 7 times before getting care
Flinders University research finds women with postpartum psychosis sought help 7 times before getting care. One was told it was 'baby blues'.
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Circadian depression: a body-clock subtype affecting mostly women
Australian researchers found a new depression subtype linked to the body clock in 23% of people with persistent depression — and 80% of cases are female.
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Australia's CVD risk calculator shifted millions into the 'grey zone'
New MJA data shows the updated Australian CVD risk calculator puts more people in the intermediate-risk zone — here's what that means for you.
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GPs cleared to start ADHD medications: what the PBAC change means
PBAC's September 2026 recommendation expands PBS ADHD drug access and lets GPs initiate treatment — a real shift for Australia's underserved adult ADHD cohort.
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Nirsevimab recommended for the National Immunisation Program
The PBAC has recommended adding the RSV antibody nirsevimab to the NIP. What it means for families with babies before the 2027 RSV season.
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14 antidepressants set for simpler PBS access after PBAC review
The PBAC has recommended moving 14 common antidepressants to Unrestricted PBS benefit. What it means for patients and GP prescribing.
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NSW peptide surge: 1,180 ED visits in 14 months
NSW Health data shows a near forty-fold rise in unregulated peptide ED presentations. What the figures mean and what to do with them.
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Young carers: the hidden group carrying a load no one counted
Hundreds of thousands of Australians under 25 provide regular unpaid family care — and most are never identified. Why this matters for the consulting room.
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TGA finds most AI clinical scribes are likely medical devices
Eight of 12 AI scribe products reviewed by the TGA likely meet the medical device definition. None had registered. What this means for patients.
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The injury that leaves no marks: GPs get a new guide for strangulation
A University of Melbourne toolkit equips GPs to recognise and respond to non-fatal strangulation, a high-risk sign of escalating intimate partner violence.
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Australia's first evidence-based menopause guidelines: what changed
RANZCOG's first evidence-based menopause guidelines cover hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness — here's what the evidence actually says.
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$9.23 billion: the growing gap in what rural Australia gets from healthcare
A new NRHA analysis finds rural Australians receive $1,218 less per person in healthcare spending each year — and telehealth is not closing the gap.
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GLP-1 users four times more likely to report nail detachment — new data
A controlled study of 575 GLP-1 users found nail detachment 4× more likely and discolouration 3× more likely vs non-users. Usually benign; worth knowing.
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TGA flags illegal waitlists for unapproved oral weight-loss pills
Telehealth providers promoting waitlists for unregistered oral GLP-1 drugs risk $18.2m fines under TGA advertising law. What patients need to know.
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Swap one-in-ten ultra-processed foods to lower bowel cancer risk — QIMR data
QIMR Berghofer analysis of 460,000 adults: replacing 10% of ultra-processed food with whole foods links to a 2% drop in bowel cancer incidence.
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Cannabis hospitalisations up 49% in a decade — women drove the surge
Victorian data from Monash's Addiction Research Centre: 40,000 cannabis hospital admissions over 10 years, with women's rate rising 75%. What GPs should ask.
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Iron infusion surge triggers phosphate safety warning
Australian women are receiving IV iron at rising rates. The US just added its strongest safety warning for ferric carboxymaltose — hypophosphataemia is real.
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The egg-timer test is rising fast. Here's what it can't tell you
AMH testing among Australian women rose 13-fold in a decade. New research says it cannot reliably predict fertility — yet women are altering plans around it.
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Dementia cases to double by 2050 — women carry two-thirds of Australia's burden
A JAMA Neurology study projects 24.7 million new dementia diagnoses yearly by 2050. Women bear a disproportionate share and researchers are asking why.
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IPV survivors face twice the mental health burden — new Australian data
New Australian data finds 55% of IPV survivors meet criteria for a mental disorder — more than double the rate in those without that history.
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One billion by 2050: the OA roadmap and what it asks of general practice
A Lancet roadmap projects one billion osteoarthritis cases by 2050. What this means for Australia's two million affected and what general practice can do now.
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Should GLP-1 drugs be PBS-listed for PCOS? The case being made
Advocates are pushing for PBS listing of GLP-1 medications for PCOS. What the evidence supports, and why access and clinical fit are both in question.
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Private health rebate cut rejected — what's at stake for over-65s
The Senate has rejected a bill to reduce private health insurance rebates for people over 65. What it means and where the debate goes next.
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Bladder cancer in women: when UTI symptoms need a second look
Women with bladder cancer are often diagnosed late after symptoms dismissed as UTIs or perimenopause. Key red flags GPs and patients should know.
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EDs overwhelmed by ageing Australians: ACEM's 2026 State of Emergency
Australia's emergency medicine college says older patients' ED waits have tripled in five years. The report names GP access as part of the solution.
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The menopause 'cliff': what the contested new study actually shows
A Nature Medicine study claims menopause brings sudden biological shifts. Australian specialists are unconvinced. What the evidence does and doesn't support.
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Bladder cancer in women: four years of missed diagnoses behind UTI labels
Blood in urine dismissed as UTI or perimenopause is delaying bladder cancer diagnosis in women — and five-year survival is already lower than in men.
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Childhood obesity redefined: fewer children classified, experts are divided
New definition of clinical obesity goes beyond BMI, roughly halving the childhood count. Australian GPs worry it may delay intervention for at-risk children.
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One year on from Medicare's mental health cuts, GPs want the funding back
On World Mental Health Day, the RACGP is calling on government to restore GP mental health items cut in November 2025 and lift rebates for long consultations.
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Bladder cancer in women: the symptom that looks like a UTI
Blood in the urine, urgency, burning — in women these overlap with UTI. Experts warn diagnostic delays are costing lives at an advanced stage.
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Most women who freeze eggs for non-medical reasons never use them
The largest ANZ egg-freezing cohort study finds only one in four women who freeze for social reasons returns to use their eggs within a decade.
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A single mid-life health check to replace five: the MBS proposal
A federal review recommends replacing separate Medicare assessments for menopause, heart health and diabetes with one bundled mid-life check.
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6,436 Australians died waiting for home care last year — 17 every day
New government data reveals 6,436 Australians approved for aged care support died waiting in 2025–26, almost 34% more than the year before.
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ASCIA updates anaphylaxis guidelines — adrenaline first, no exceptions
ASCIA's 2026 anaphylaxis guidelines clarify adrenaline as unambiguous first-line, add a refractory pathway, and include nasal adrenaline devices.
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Diltiazem 360 mg capsules being discontinued — what patients need to know
Both Australian brands of diltiazem 360 mg controlled-release capsules are being discontinued. A TGA pharmacist substitution instrument is now active.
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GLP-1 medications and surgery: disclose even if not GP-prescribed
ANZCA is urging patients on GLP-1 drugs or unapproved peptides to disclose before surgery, after research found an 11-times higher aspiration risk.
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Victorian pharmacists can now resupply MHT without a new script
Victoria's Chemist Care Now program expands to MHT resupply — what eligible women need to know and the access-versus-continuity tension.
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Low pollen count, real symptoms — why allergy forecasts miss some people
A University of Queensland study of 115,000 symptom reports shows individual allergy response cannot be predicted from population pollen counts alone.
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Pain peaks in women under 55 — what a 35-year global study found
A 6-million-person study across 118 countries shows women report more pain than men at every body site, with the steepest rise before age 55.
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AIHW's first count: 1.9 million Australians on five-plus medicines
Australia's first national polypharmacy report: 7% of residents on five-plus medicines in 2025, 40% of over-75s affected — private scripts excluded.
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Qdenga dengue vaccine now available in Australia — who should get it
ATAGI recommends Qdenga for Australians with prior dengue exposure travelling to endemic regions. Two doses 12 weeks apart, now orderable by GPs.
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Novel synthetic opioid detected in Tasmania — overdose possible within minutes
Tasmanian health authorities issued a warning after an overdose death linked to a U-class synthetic opioid found in illicit drug supplies.
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Anti-trans online stigma linked to major mental health harms — Melbourne study
A University of Melbourne study of 807 trans and gender-diverse Australians links frequent anti-trans content exposure to anxiety, depression, and suicidality.
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Post-breast cancer fatigue: it's depression and stress, not cardiac damage
A JAMA study found depression and stress, not cardiac damage, drove fatigue two years after breast cancer treatment — shifting the clinical target.
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GLP-1s and surgery: why fasting instructions may not be enough
Australian anaesthetists warn standard pre-op fasting may leave GLP-1 patients at aspiration risk. What GPs need to raise before any surgical referral.
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Govt backs permanent pharmacy UTI prescribing — the evidence gaps matter
Tasmania's evaluation recommends making pharmacist UTI antibiotic prescribing permanent, but only 120 patients gave feedback on 6,534 consultations.
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Andrographis cold supplement banned by TGA after fatal anaphylaxis
TGA has removed Andrographis from over-the-counter cold supplements after 1,368 adverse events including a fatal anaphylaxis in 2024.
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Why bacterial vaginosis keeps coming back — and what new research is changing
Melbourne researchers identify two distinct BV recurrence pathways and a concurrent male-partner treatment that cuts recurrence by over 60%.
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Subutex leaving Australia by 2027 — opioid treatment options keep narrowing
Indivior will pull Subutex from Australia by 2027 — the second buprenorphine product withdrawn, raising concerns for opioid use disorder treatment.
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Measles and diphtheria are back. Check your vaccination status.
SA's 2026 measles count hit a 10-year high. Australia's diphtheria outbreak has exceeded 600 cases. Two diseases, one question: are you protected?
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Stroke is rising in under-65s. Know these symptoms immediately.
A 39-year-old Sunshine Coast concreter suffered three strokes in 24 hours before reaching hospital. Stroke rates in younger Australians are climbing.
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Illegal tobacco ads are slipping through on social media.
Quit has flagged brazen illegal tobacco advertising on Facebook that platforms refused to remove when reported. Here's what the enforcement gap looks like.
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Contact sports and MND: what the evidence says after Nathan Charles
Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, 37, diagnosed with MND. Studies show elite contact-sport athletes face up to 15 times higher MND risk than the population.
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GLP-1 drugs delivered to your door: what LillyDirect removes
Eli Lilly launched LillyDirect in Australia, shipping Mounjaro to homes via online pharmacist review. GPs warn the model bypasses critical safety checks.
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RCH chemotherapy glove breach: what a decade of wrong PPE looks like
Staff at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital used unapproved gloves for chemotherapy drugs for years. WorkSafe flagged it; an investigation is underway.
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Dementia is Australia's leading cause of death — half of cases go undiagnosed
Half of Australians with dementia are undiagnosed. Up to 45% of risk factors are modifiable and manageable in general practice — what to know and do.
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HER2+ breast cancer: 20 years since trastuzumab changed everything
Trastuzumab turns 20 on Australia's PBS today. What HER2-positive breast cancer treatment looks like now — and what the past 20 years changed.
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BV is sexually transmissible — treating male partners cuts relapse by 60%
Melbourne research confirms BV is sexually transmissible and concurrent male partner treatment reduces recurrence by over 60% — what this means for the consult.
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Australia's first dengue vaccine is now available on prescription
QDENGA is now on private prescription for travellers aged 4+, with ATAGI guidance on who should ask about it before this summer.
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TikTok is teaching women to fear the pill — five billion views at a time
A La Trobe University study of 100 TikTok contraception videos found most are poor quality, with half discouraging hormonal birth control using debunked myths.
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UTI pharmacy pilot wins expansion — but what about the outcomes?
The Tasmanian UTI pharmacy pilot is recommended for permanent expansion. The RACGP says only 1.8% of patients gave feedback and outcomes were never measured.
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Six Queensland babies died of congenital syphilis in three years
Six Queensland neonatal deaths from congenital syphilis in three years — a preventable outcome, exposing gaps in first-trimester antenatal screening.
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Semaglutide and surgery: the aspiration risk most patients aren't told
A UK cohort study confirms GLP-1 receptor agonists substantially elevate aspiration risk under anaesthesia due to delayed gastric emptying.
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One in eight cancers worldwide is caused by an infection
A global study estimates 12.5% of cancers are caused by infections — HPV, H. pylori, hepatitis B and C — many preventable with existing AU tools.
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Your GP wants more time for preventive care — the system won't give it
A poll finds 75% of GPs lack time for preventive health conversations. Australian data shows only 1 in 3 GPs can actually deliver it.
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SA measles cluster reaches a hospital ED — what to check now
Nine measles cases in SA this year, with the latest case visiting Queen Elizabeth Hospital ED. Here is what to check and when to act.
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TGA bans a common cold remedy ingredient over anaphylaxis risk
Andrographis, found in popular OTC cold remedies, has been removed from new listed medicines after 1,368 adverse events including one death.
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Australian AI tool detects endometriosis markers with 83% accuracy
Australian researchers built an AI tool detecting endometriosis markers from scans with 83% accuracy, aiming to cut the average 7-year diagnostic delay.
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ED waits are getting worse — and bed block is the reason
Westmead's average ED wait is 6.5 hours vs a state average of 3.8 hours. Bed block is the core driver, affecting 1 in 8 NSW beds statewide.
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57% of young Australians have experienced strangulation during sex
A 2024 study of 4,702 young Australians found strangulation during sex is now common. Experts warn of delayed neurological harm including stroke and death.
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AFL Grand Final weekend: DV services warn of heightened risk tonight
Victoria Police recorded a 5% rise in DV incidents on AFL Grand Final day last year. Frontline services are on alert for increased demand this weekend.
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Australian drug use in 2026: heroin daily, cocaine at record highs
New national surveillance data shows heroin frequency at its highest since 2000, cocaine use at a 20-year peak, and heroin hospitalisations up 26% in one year.
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My Health Record compliance deadline is 1 October — five days away
From 1 October 2026 the ADHA will enforce updated My Health Record security rules. Every practice registered before 1 April 2026 must have policies in place.
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RACGP asks PBAC to keep Ozempic prescribing simple for GPs
RACGP has submitted to the PBAC ahead of its November GLP-1 review, warning more authority requirements add admin burden without improving patient outcomes.
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4 in 10 Instagram #womenshealth posts are selling something
Sydney Uni NHMRC researchers found 4 in 10 Instagram #womenshealth posts are ads, 69% make health claims, but only 7% cite evidence.
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On a specialist waiting list? You may never reach the front
AMA Tasmania data shows Category 3 neurology waits exceed 5.5 years. The honest conversation patients deserve — and what to do while you wait.
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AHPRA puts prescribers on notice: what patients need to know
AHPRA released interim guidance targeting practitioners with undisclosed financial ties — naming telehealth and online prescribers specifically.
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Fathers and postnatal depression: the screening gap Australia needs to close
A Senate inquiry is considering routine screening of new fathers for postnatal depression — only 2% are currently screened, despite 1 in 10 being affected.
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Zoladex stays on PBS until May 2027 — what this means for you
AstraZeneca confirms goserelin monthly implant stays PBS-listed to 1 May 2027, after patient and GP backlash over the planned November delisting.
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Alcohol labels fail on cancer warnings, new Australian study finds
A study of 6,037 Australian alcohol products found just 25% include voluntary health warnings, while evidence links even low-level drinking to breast cancer.
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Flu came late this spring but it's here now — key facts for September 2026
Flu cases rose 27% in two weeks to early September, with H3N2 dominating and vaccination rates down. Here's what your patients need to know this spring.
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2.5 million undiagnosed migraines: Australia's hidden neurological crisis
AIHW's 2025 figures show neurological conditions affect 4.5 million Australians — double the previous estimate — driven almost entirely by migraines.
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TGA moves to recall Andrographis cold and flu supplements
1,468 adverse reports, one death. The TGA is recalling all Andrographis-containing cold and flu supplements by mid-October over anaphylaxis risk.
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Eli Lilly launches Mounjaro home delivery. The RACGP has concerns.
LillyDirect ships tirzepatide direct to Australians with an e-script. The RACGP warns of fragmented prescribing and risks for eating disorder patients.
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Victoria's wet winter sets up a dangerous spring for asthma and hayfever
Satellite data flags abundant pasture grass after a record wet winter. Experts warn Victoria faces more extreme pollen days in 2026 than last year's five.
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Most Australians wait years for dementia diagnosis. AIHW shows why.
AIHW survey: 39% waited over three years for a dementia diagnosis. GP misattribution of symptoms was a key barrier for 18% of respondents.
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New heart attack definition: three categories, sex-specific thresholds
A global guideline update reframes heart attack classification and introduces sex-specific troponin cut-points that could reduce missed diagnoses in women.
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Syphilis up 167% in Australian women: what GPs need to act on now
Syphilis up 167% in Australian women over a decade. Forty congenital infant deaths since 2016. Three antenatal syphilis tests per pregnancy is now the standard.
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COVID vaccines: who still gets them free from October 2026
From 1 October, government-funded COVID vaccines are restricted to high-risk groups. Most working-age Australians will pay out of pocket for the first time.
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Knitting for your brain: the evidence is real, just not the headlines
Craft activities like knitting and crochet show genuine brain health signals — but the evidence for dementia prevention is observational only, and that matters.
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Unlicensed weight-loss peptides just caused a torn oesophagus
A peptide sold as retatrutide actually contained semaglutide at 8x the therapeutic dose — triggering an oesophageal tear. The TGA has warned against its use.
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AHPRA puts high-volume off-label prescribers on notice
AHPRA now investigates reckless prescribing of peptides, GLP-1 drugs, and medicinal cannabis without requiring a prior patient complaint.
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NEJM trial halted: azithromycin fails for preschool wheeze
An 840-child RCT stopped early confirms azithromycin has no clinical benefit for preschool wheeze — even when pathogenic bacteria are detected.
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More GP visits after a heart attack cuts death risk by 13%
Australian linked data: more GP visits in year one after a heart attack cut mortality risk by 13% and rehospitalisation odds by 6%.
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New Medicare check for three-year-olds starts November 2026
A new MBS health assessment item for three-year-olds launches 1 November 2026, covering development, vision, hearing and oral health in general practice.
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Australia's 2026 flu season is late but not over
Victoria reports a 400% rise in influenza notifications over seven weeks. RACGP urges vaccination ahead of a possible second peak in spring 2026.
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NSW changes driving rules for medicinal cannabis patients
NSW repeals the automatic licence suspension for THC-positive medicinal cannabis patients, introducing a registration and threshold system in late 2026.
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72% of dementia diagnoses first made in hospital — what needs to change
New Australian data on 91,888 dementia diagnoses: 72% were first diagnosed during a hospital stay. The general practice funding gap is now named.
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Australia's first endometriosis management plan reaches the GP room
A seven-step care pathway for endometriosis launched in general practice today — a clinical roadmap for a condition affecting 1 in 9 women.
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Mpox cases surging in Victoria: what GPs need to do now
Victoria has recorded 52 mpox cases since 1 August 2026, with 240 nationally this year. GPs are urged to test any sexually active patient with symptoms.
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AHPRA's off-label prescribing guidance: patient demand is not enough
New AHPRA guidance makes clear that patient desire for a drug is not clinical justification — and GPs with high prescribing rates are being monitored.
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Dementia prevention is not a lifestyle project — it is a national one
Lancet Public Health identifies 61 modifiable dementia risk factors. Curtin researchers argue most can't be fixed by individual effort alone.
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New MI definition finally makes room for how women's hearts fail
The Fifth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction adds sex-specific troponin thresholds and SCAD — changes Australian women needed a decade ago.
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SSRI safety in pregnancy: what the new evidence actually says
A JAMA Network Open study of over 1,000 pregnancies found SSRIs cause transient neonatal adaptation effects, not serious lasting harm.
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Statins in healthy over-70s: major AU trial changes the picture
Australia's STAREE trial of 9,971 healthy over-70s found atorvastatin cuts cardiovascular events by 30%, though primary survival outcomes were unchanged.
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Syphilis in women up 167% in a decade: what to do now
Australia's 2025 sexual health data shows syphilis diagnoses in women rose 167% over ten years — and congenital cases are reaching infants.
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Australia's overdose report 2026: stimulants at record, over-50s hardest hit
Penington Institute 2026: 2,091 unintentional drug deaths — a record — stimulant deaths up 25%, and the 50–59 age group now the highest-risk cohort.
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Fake retatrutide, real danger: unapproved peptide caused oesophageal tear
A patient suffered a life-threatening oesophageal tear from a black-market peptide labelled as retatrutide that contained 8× the standard semaglutide dose.
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Victoria's first women's pain standard: what believing her looks like
Victoria has released Australia's first clinical standard requiring women's pain be believed, investigated, and managed — not dismissed.
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Climate 'whiplash' could flag dengue outbreaks a month out
Research across 13 countries links rapid wet-dry climate shifts to dengue outbreaks with a 0-1 month warning window — AU data included but less conclusive.
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NSW pharmacists to prescribe for 23 chronic conditions from 2027
NSW announces pharmacist prescribing for COPD, hypertension, and 21 other conditions. Medical bodies call it 'a slap in the face' with insufficient evidence.
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GPs bridging a PBS gap on pregnancy nausea with off-label prescribing
Australian research finds ondansetron accounts for 53% of PBS antiemetic spending in pregnancy but lacks a PBS listing—low-income women bear the cost.
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Cosmetic eye tattooing: the complication that arrived 8 years later
A case report documents the first corneal dellen from conjunctival tattooing — emerging 8 years after the procedure after swimming in the sea.
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FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus goes standalone on NDSS from 1 October
T1 diabetes patients can access the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus CGM through NDSS without a connected insulin pump from 1 October 2026.
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Rib contouring surgery is trending. Here's what the evidence says
Social media is pushing rib contouring surgery for a smaller waist. A clinical psychologist unpacks body image, looksmaxxing, and BDD.
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The fertility test your GP orders 13 times more than a decade ago
AMH testing has surged 13-fold in Australian general practice. A new study finds most orders aren't evidence-based — and low results can mislead.
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Buruli ulcer is spreading through Australian suburbs — act now
Mosquito-borne Buruli ulcer has reached inner Melbourne and NSW's south coast. Victoria recorded 426 cases in 2025. Prevention starts in your garden.
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Medicare simplification may cut GP time women rely on most
A federal proposal to consolidate 300+ MBS items would remove condition-specific billing codes that structure focused women's health consultations.
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First COPD biologic on the PBS — what GPs need to check
Mepolizumab (Nucala) is now PBS-listed for COPD. Eligibility hinges on blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/µL and a clear exacerbation history.
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Personalised mRNA therapy outperforms pembro alone in melanoma
Phase 3 data for intismeran autogene plus pembrolizumab in resected high-risk melanoma. TGA submission planned — PBS access is years away.
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40,500 Australian infants unprotected from RSV — a postcode lottery
Australia's RSV infant program is split by state. WA and QLD deliver 60% of doses while covering just 30% of births. The IFA wants NIP funding.
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A year wait for colonoscopy after a positive cancer screen
A Tasmanian man classified Category 1 priority has waited over 80 days for a colonoscopy the system said should happen within 30. The waitlist is 1,000 long.
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Women's health is siloed — and that's why she keeps falling through the gaps
Half of Australian women experience mental health issues. New data shows that when physical and mental care remain fragmented, the burden compounds.
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SPF 4 in a bottle labelled SPF50+ — and the TGA audit found nothing wrong
Wild Child Laboratories' sunscreen formula returned SPF as low as 2.9 in testing. Twenty products recalled, $20 million in claims, a dissolved company.
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A new body shape metric predicts cancer risk — but with limits
A UK study links a body roundness index to 13 cancer types in 470,000 participants. Waist circumference already captures this in Australian clinical practice.
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60% of donated NRL player brains had CTE: what GPs need to know
Australian Sports Brain Bank found CTE in 31 of 51 donated NRL brains. A landmark finding reshaping how GPs counsel athletes and families about head trauma.
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A boy died of scurvy — his multivitamin had no vitamin C
A coroner has found a 6-year-old with Down syndrome died from scurvy after a multivitamin with no vitamin C. A direct lesson for every GP advising supplements.
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Australia's updated asthma guidance: beyond the blue puffer
Australia's updated asthma guidance recommends anti-inflammatory reliever therapy as the new starting point — retiring SABA monotherapy for most adults.
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GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and muscle: sorting signal from noise
New evidence suggests GLP-1 muscle loss is proportional to other weight-loss methods — but robust long-term data is still pending.
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Multi-joint OA linked to 47% faster frailty progression
A six-year longitudinal study finds two-to-three joint OA accelerates frailty progression by 40–47% — with implications for how GPs prioritise early support.
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GPs can now prescribe hepatitis B antivirals — no specialist sign-off needed
Entecavir and tenofovir are now PBS-accessible via any GP or nurse practitioner — the eleven-year accreditation barrier has been removed.
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One in ten meditators has a serious adverse reaction — the missing disclosure
Research documents over 50 adverse meditation effects. One in ten meditators is affected — and informed consent is largely absent from the wellness industry.
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New mothers get contradictory advice — and it's quietly costing them
Australian antenatal guidelines score poorly on all quality domains. Most postnatal depression peaks after six weeks — past where systematic screening ends.
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66% of South Australians who menstruate can't afford period products
Period poverty is rising with national poverty. The alternatives — theft, socks, extended product use — carry real health risk. Australia is behind.
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Private health at 65: what Butler's rebate plan actually means
Federal government is cutting private health rebates for over-65s to fund aged care. States warn it will flood public hospitals. Here's the honest picture.
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Victoria's GP shortage is sending people to emergency
Rural Victorian clinics face 2–4 month waits and some towns had no GP for months. When people can't access a GP they wait — and they arrive at emergency sicker.
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The tobacco tax cut proposal — what the health evidence says
The Coalition proposes cutting tobacco excise by 80% to undercut the black market. Health bodies oppose it. Here is what the evidence actually shows.
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Queensland flu is still rising — and your vaccine may be fading
An unusually late influenza surge is tracking 27% week-on-week in Queensland. The free vaccination program ends September 30.
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Australia's first national menopause guideline is coming
A $2.9 million Federal investment funds a living clinical guideline for perimenopause and menopause — two years away, but a meaningful shift.
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Keytruda joins the PBS for more cancers — what's changed
Pembrolizumab now covers ovarian, bile duct and Merkel cell cancers on PBS. Here's what the survival data shows and what GPs need to understand.
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NSW makes pill testing permanent — what GPs need to know
NSW has funded drug checking at up to 15 festivals annually. A trial linked it to fewer hospital presentations. Here is what GPs need to know.
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A 15-minute iron deficiency test from Australia — not yet here
WEHI has developed a 15-minute ferritin test that detects iron deficiency before anaemia. Still in overseas validation — here is the honest picture.
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Continuous ketone monitoring is coming — what to watch for
The FDA has approved a combined glucose-ketone wearable. Australia's TGA hasn't yet. Here is what GPs need to know now for type 1 diabetes patients.
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PBS removes hep B prescribing barrier — GPs can initiate from today
From 1 September 2026, GPs no longer need prescriber accreditation to initiate PBS hepatitis B treatment, improving access for 219,000 Australians.
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SA's men's health inquiry targets suicide rates and the algorithm problem
South Australia is investigating male suicide — men die by suicide at 3x the rate of women — alongside social media algorithms and the male help-seeking gap.
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PBAC may let GPs start non-stimulant ADHD drugs — a shift years overdue
The PBAC will consider letting GPs initiate atomoxetine and guanfacine in September 2026, potentially cutting months-long specialist wait times for ADHD.
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Pelvic organ prolapse: women are under-warned, under-treated, waiting years
An estimated 407,000 Australian women have symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse. Public surgery waits exceed 3 years. A Senate inquiry has begun.
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World-first trial: statins cut heart attacks 30% in healthy over-70s
The STAREE trial — run across 1,000+ Australian general practices — is the first RCT showing statins reduce cardiovascular events in healthy adults aged 70+.
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The government quietly lowered its GP access benchmark
DoHDA cut its 2026–27 GP attendance target from 85% to 80%, pointing to pharmacies and online clinics. The RACGP is not reassured.
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Cochrane confirms: nicotine vapes beat patches for quitting
An updated 80-trial Cochrane review finds nicotine e-cigarettes outperform patches and gums for smoking cessation — with important Australian caveats.
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WHO updates dementia prevention guidance — midlife is the window
WHO's second-edition dementia risk reduction guidelines highlight a dozen modifiable factors. Most are most actionable in your 40s and 50s.
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Nine steps to close Australia's abortion care equity gap
A Monash University-led coalition has published nine Medicare reform recommendations to make abortion care affordable and accessible across Australia.
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Endometriosis hospital admissions up 23% in a decade — AIHW
AIHW data shows 24,700 endometriosis hospitalisations in 2024–25, a 23% rise over 10 years driven by better awareness and diagnosis.
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Gardasil turns 20 — and HPV vaccine coverage is falling
Australia launched the world's first HPV vaccine 20 years ago. Coverage among 15-year-olds has since declined below the critical 80% threshold.
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NT legalises voluntary assisted dying: Australia's last jurisdiction joins
NT parliament votes to legalise VAD — making it the final Australian jurisdiction to do so, with a real access gap for rural Territorians.
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Specialist out-of-pockets near $2.3 billion — Butler flags 'all options'
Specialist out-of-pocket costs near $2.3 billion annually, nearly doubled in five years. Butler puts fee transparency laws and regulation on the table.
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Australia's tobacco black market hits 80%: what the excise debate gets wrong
Illegal cigarettes are 80% of Australian tobacco sales. Coalition wants to cut excise; health experts warn that risks reversing decades of hard-won decline.
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Prescribed cannabis and 'use disorder': why the label matters
Addiction experts want tolerance and withdrawal excluded from cannabis use disorder criteria when the drug is prescribed — here is why it matters.
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NT passes VAD: voluntary assisted dying now legal across Australia
Twenty-nine years after Canberra overturned NT's original 1995 law, the NT completes the national map on voluntary assisted dying.
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B6 neuropathy: regulator proposes cutting safe limit by 72 per cent
Australia may slash the vitamin B6 safe upper limit from 50mg to 14mg — a change that could affect millions of supplement users.
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70% of head impacts in practice: what CTE research means for Australian sport
A new study found 70% of NFL head impacts occur in practice, not games — and 1 in 4 players had CTE. What this means for Australian contact sport families.
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Australia records 538 diphtheria cases — the largest outbreak since 1991
Australia's largest diphtheria outbreak since records began: 538 cases in 2026, mostly in remote NT and WA, with immunity waning even in vaccinated people.
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Seven hospitalised: the contaminated peptide crisis doctors warned was coming
Seven Victorians hospitalised with acute liver failure after counterfeit retatrutide — TGA says no unapproved peptide is safe.
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Australia is spending billions treating diabetes. Prevention keeps losing.
Gestational diabetes nearly doubled in a decade. VicHealth's CEO argues GLP-1s treat the symptom while food poverty and income drive the cause.
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RACGP: The GP aged care incentive pays $300 a year. The job costs far more.
A new RACGP position statement names the funding gap driving GPs out of residential aged care — and the hospital burden that results.
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New research: 20% sugar tax could prevent 3.7 million dental cases
Australian modelling in BMJ Public Health finds a 20% sugary-drink levy could prevent 3.7 million dental events and 115,000 tooth losses over 25 years.
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New data: half of Australian women with endometriosis are living with depression
A 9,000-woman Australian study finds nearly 50% with endometriosis have depression — and one in eight reports suicidal ideation.
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Surgeons want Medicare and insurance overhauled to close the patient gap
A 700-surgeon RACS survey finds 67% want MBS rebate reform as their top priority to reduce patients' out-of-pocket surgical costs.
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No needles: Xoma Labs wins $200k for a non-invasive glucose monitor ring
Diabetes Australia's innovation prize went to a ring that reads glucose without finger pricks or sensor insertion. Here's what the data says.
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DVA's $5000 allied health cap: what changes for veterans and their GPs
From 1 July 2027, a $5,000 annual threshold applies to DVA veteran allied health spending — paired with a fee rise to $110 and no more 12-session limits.
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On-call and can't sleep: the anticipatory anxiety mechanism
CQUniversity researchers show that just knowing a work call might come is enough to fragment sleep — no actual interruption required.
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Maternal RSV vaccine cuts infant hospitalisation risk by 81% in Australian study
Real-world data from nine Australian hospitals shows maternal RSV vaccination reduces severe infant respiratory illness in the critical first six months.
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Familial hypercholesterolaemia: why catching it in childhood changes everything
SAFEHEART study: children with FH started on treatment early had 0.3% cardiac event rates vs 11.8% in parents. Australia has no national screening program.
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Postpartum care Senate inquiry: the 'cliff edge' is now on the record
A Senate Select Committee will probe postpartum care gaps. The RACGP wants a Medicare-funded GP postpartum care plan and Pregnancy Health Record digitisation.
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Upadacitinib for alopecia areata: 55% regrowth in two global phase 3 trials
Two phase 3 trials show upadacitinib achieves significant regrowth in severe alopecia areata, including 20% complete regrowth, with psychosocial benefits.
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Cannabis in your 30s carries a bigger psychosis risk than in your teens
A meta-analysis of 149 studies finds cannabis users in their 30s develop psychosis six years earlier than non-users — the biggest gap across all age groups.
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Free COVID vaccines get narrower from 1 October — who misses out
From 1 October, free COVID vaccines narrow to adults 65+, those with severe immunocompromise, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians 50+.
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POTS: 800,000 Australians affected but only 2% of GPs trained in it
Women aged 15–50 bear the brunt of POTS, yet only 2% of GPs surveyed have training in it. Rural patients travel hundreds of kilometres for specialist care.
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BreastScreen plans personalised mammography within ten years
Australia's national breast screening programme will shift to risk-stratified mammography over the next decade, with pilots beginning for women aged 45–49.
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Most shoulder pain doesn't need early scans — what the evidence says
A 2026 JAMA Internal Medicine review finds that 95% of shoulder pain in general practice can be managed without imaging — and early scans often mislead.
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TGA issues urgent warning on melanotan II tanning products
Lab testing of seized nasal sprays found doses ranging from 22 mg to 54 mg in products labelled 30 mg — making safe use of this unapproved peptide impossible.
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1 in 7 Australians aren't protected from measles. Are you one of them?
A world-first NCIRS study finds 93.3% herd immunity in 2019 — thin end of the WHO target. Vaccination rates have fallen further since COVID.
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Trauma triples the risk of psychosis. There's a therapy that treats both.
Childhood trauma triples psychosis risk. Evidence shows trauma-focused CBT treats both — yet trauma is rarely assessed in psychosis care.
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Zoladex is leaving. Triptorelin is the PBS replacement — here's what it means.
PBAC has backed triptorelin's PBS expansion to cover endometriosis, fibroids and breast cancer, triggered by AstraZeneca's November withdrawal of Zoladex.
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Dementia tops Australia's death toll. A blood test just got the green light.
Dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as Australia's leading cause of death. A TGA-authorised blood test can now detect it decades early.
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GLP-1 drugs linked to a rare sight-threatening eye condition
The TGA has updated GLP-1 warnings across all drugs in the class after 36 Australian cases of optic neuropathy — including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
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Iron deficiency: the most common nutrient gap, and how to close it at home
Iron deficiency is among the most common nutrient deficiencies in Australian children — and many women are affected too. Here's what to do.
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Gambling's reach into young lives is wider than most parents realise
Advertising reforms hit in January 2027. Here's what the evidence says about gambling harm in under-34s — and what GPs can do now.
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mRNA vaccines are moving well beyond COVID — here's what's next
From RSV to melanoma: MJA Insight+ breaks down the expanding mRNA pipeline and what Australian GPs need to know now.
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More colds in the first three years: what that means for eczema risk
Two large cohort studies find up to 80% higher atopic dermatitis odds in children with the heaviest early infection burden. Verdict: watch this carefully.
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A new ADHD drug hits three brain chemicals — is it coming here?
Centanafadine (Simtriyo) is FDA-approved and targets noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. It isn't TGA-listed yet, but the science matters now.
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Intensive BP control cuts recurrent stroke by 38% after brain bleed
A Lancet Neurology meta-analysis of 2,944 ICH survivors shows pushing systolic BP to 127 mmHg cuts recurrent stroke risk by 38%, challenging current targets.
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Medical Board warns on telehealth peptide prescribing at scale
Australia's Medical Board chair warns that unapproved peptides prescribed via telehealth risk patient safety and erode trust in the medical profession.
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Medicare now funds home sleep studies for children aged 3–17
Two new MBS items from 1 July 2026 fund home-based polysomnography for children and adolescents — but GPs refer through a sleep specialist, not direct.
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ME/CFS back in Australia's Burden of Disease Study after 15 years
The AIHW will measure ME/CFS using DALYs for the first time since 2011, giving the condition visibility in the national framework that shapes funding.
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NDIS tightens access for people with psychosocial disability
New 'permanence' and 'treatment exhaustion' requirements in the NDIS Amendment Bill 2026 will make NDIS access harder for people with serious mental illness.
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Bird flu in Australia: human risk very low, but flu shots are falling
Australia had its first H5N1 mass bird mortality in August 2026. CSIRO says human risk is very low — but flu vaccination rates have quietly fallen to 26%.
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Congenital syphilis: 33 babies dead, 91 cases — a systemic failure
Congenital syphilis killed 33 newborns in Australia 2020–2025. A national roundtable named eight systemic failures — including a drug shortage through 2027.
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GLP-1 weight drugs edge toward PBS — what's holding it up
Semaglutide has TGA approval for obesity but no PBS listing. 500,000 Australians pay $200–700 a month out-of-pocket while price talks continue.
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GP bulk-billing reaches 84%: what changed and who's still missing out
Australia's GP bulk-billing rate hit 84.1% in mid-2026, up from 79.2% a year ago. Here's what drove the rise, and where the access gaps remain.
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Prostate cancer testing now starts at 45 for higher-risk Australians
RACGP-endorsed guideline update: PSA testing starts at 45 for higher-risk men, MRI now precedes biopsy, and active surveillance is the new default.
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Salbutamol nebule shortage: what to do if you use a nebuliser for asthma
GSK's Ventolin Nebules 2.5 mg are in short supply until late December 2026. Your pMDI with a spacer works at least as well — here's what to know.
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IBD in Australia: the biologic medicines most can't access
Only 25% of new IBD medicines launched globally reach the PBS — what that gap means for patients living with Crohn's or colitis.
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A breath test for silicosis: catching lung disease before it's permanent
Brisbane researchers are using exhaled breath particles to detect silicosis earlier — before irreversible lung damage sets in. Here's what the research means.
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Seven hundred million dollars and specialists still won't go rural
Despite $700 million in specialist training funding, over 80% of non-GP specialists are projected to stay in cities. A Parliament inquiry is now looking at why.
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Australia's breast screening is changing: what dense breasts mean now
BreastScreen Australia is moving to risk-stratified mammography — what the shift means if you have dense breasts, family history, or elevated genetic risk.
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Dry needling: what the evidence actually shows before you book
Dry needling is used by nearly two-thirds of Australian physiotherapists, but evidence shows short-term benefit only and no better outcomes than exercise.
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Self-tapering opioids without support can be fatal — a coroner's finding
A Victorian coroner found a woman died from tapentadol toxicity after self-tapering opioids without GP supervision — what chronic pain patients need to know.
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Dry needling: short-term relief, real risks
Dry needling eases pain short-term but shows no advantage over exercise — and serious adverse events, including lung collapse, do occur.
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Updoc data breach: what telehealth patients need to know
Telehealth operator Updoc notified patients of a 31 July data breach — contact details may be exposed, but health records and Medicare data were not affected.
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Occupational pesticide exposure and motor neurone disease — the evidence so far
A new meta-analysis links occupational pesticide exposure to a 61% higher ALS risk — significant caveats mean this sits firmly in maybe territory.
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TGA moves toward enforcement on AI scribes after safety review
The TGA is moving from education to enforcement on AI clinical scribes, after a year-long safety review found scope creep and monitoring gaps.
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Work stress is disrupting one in three Australians' sleep — new national data
New Sleep Health Foundation data shows 36.9% of Australian workers say job stress disrupts sleep, with mental health and performance impacts.
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Stopping semaglutide before pregnancy may not be enough — two new studies
Two new US studies show that stopping semaglutide before pregnancy may not remove the gestational complication risk — even after ceasing the medication.
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Australia's drug overdose toll hits a 20-year high — stimulants are driving it
2,005 Australians died from drug overdose in 2024 — a 20-year high. Opioids are declining; amphetamine deaths hit a record. What GPs need to know.
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B6 supplement warnings are failing Australians — new data shows why
Over 20 million high-dose B6 products were sold in three years despite TGA safety alerts. New data shows warning labels are not changing consumer behaviour.
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Hepatitis B and C: the patients general practice is still missing
A new Healthed episode raises the question most GPs already know the answer to: we have a cure for hepatitis C, so why are tens of thousands still undiagnosed?
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IBS and the gut-brain axis: why psychology isn't the whole story
A new MJA review confirms IBS is a real biological disorder — and explains why early psychological assessment is part of that biology, not a dismissal.
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PBAC considers PBS listing for triptorelin in endometriosis and fibroids
A special PBAC meeting on 30 July weighed PBS access to triptorelin for women's health — potentially ending $264/month out-of-pocket costs.
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Does exercise actually keep you well in winter? Here's the evidence
Monash research confirms regular moderate exercise does reduce winter illness risk — and why 'sweating it out' is still the wrong call.
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The GP gender pay gap just got wider — and Medicare is why
Prof Louise Stone on why female GPs earn 26% less than male colleagues, and how November 2025 Medicare changes widened the rebate gap from 1% to 8%.
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'Clinical-grade' skincare online: what that label actually means
Adelaide University pharmacy research on tretinoin, hydroquinone, and topical steroids sold online — and why 'clinical-grade' is marketing, not regulation.
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TGA greenlights Alzheimer's blood test that sees 20 years ahead
The pTau217 blood test can now detect Alzheimer's brain changes decades before symptoms. What GPs and worried patients need to know right now.
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Twice-yearly asthma injection cleared by TGA — the catch is PBS access
Depemokimab (Exdensur) is Australia's first twice-yearly anti-IL-5 biologic for severe eosinophilic asthma. TGA-approved; not yet on the PBS.
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High-THC medicinal cannabis: the evidence gap is wider than most GPs know
Category 5 high-THC products now drive nearly half of TGA cannabis applications — yet a systematic review found no evidence above 22% THC concentration.
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MyMedicare is working against the patients it should help most
Senate hearing: MyMedicare blocks chronic disease funding when patients cross clinics — cutting the most vulnerable patients off from care.
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Richard Scolyer's patient-zero experiment: what it changed for brain cancer
Prof Scolyer died in June 2026 as patient zero in his own immunotherapy trial for grade 4 glioblastoma. What his self-experiment changed for brain cancer.
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Fuel crisis exposes how fragile healthcare access really is
AMA and RACGP propose relaxing Medicare's 30/20 telephone rule if Australia hits Level 3 fuel security — and why rural patients are watching closely.
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Australia's first national miscarriage data: 30% of mothers have been there
AIHW publishes the first national pregnancy-loss data. One in three mothers who gave birth in 2022 had experienced at least one prior miscarriage.
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Ventolin nebule shortage: what your asthma plan should look like right now
Salbutamol nebule supply will be limited until late 2026. RACGP says this is the moment to review — most adults with asthma should not be relying on SABA alone.
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Young Australians' mental health: real decline, or just better at naming it?
HILDA analysis of 270,000 responses: Australian youth mental health has genuinely worsened since 2007 — reduced stigma is also increasing reported rates.
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Australia's chronic pain gap: 40% wait 3+ years for diagnosis
The 2026 National Pain Report reveals 5 million Australians with chronic pain face years-long delays, cost barriers, and workforce exit at scale.
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GLP-1 scripts doubled despite PBS restrictions — PBAC to review
PBS semaglutide prescriptions rose from 1.16 million to 2.33 million in one year despite 2024 tighter prior authority rules; PBAC reviewing compliance.
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Parliament gets a free vote on ending the VAD telehealth ban
The federal government will allow MPs a conscience vote on lifting the legislative ban on telehealth assessments for voluntary assisted dying.
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Children's antibiotic resistance is rising everywhere — an AU-led study
Murdoch Children's led a 106,000-patient study across 82 countries: AMR is worsening in every one, with first-line options narrowing for common infections.
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A blood test could flag Alzheimer's risk a decade before symptoms appear
The p-tau217 blood test predicts Alzheimer's risk 5–10 years before symptoms appear — international research, not yet clinically available in Australia.
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Australian trial: swimming halved chronic back-pain disability in 8 weeks
A Macquarie University RCT: 8 weeks of structured swimming halved disability scores in adults with persistent low back pain, 30% better than education-only.
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When you eat unhealthy food matters — not just what you eat
Chrononutrition research confirms when you eat changes your metabolic response. The same food hits blood sugar harder at night than at breakfast.
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Australia is mailing every 50-year-old a dementia prevention letter
From July 2026 every Australian turning 50 gets a government dementia prevention letter. What it says, what the WHO's new guidelines add, and what to do at 45.
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Half of Australian women seeking abortion had to find a new GP to get it
A Flinders University study of one million women across 400 practices: geographic location still determines who can access medical abortion in Australia.
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Telehealth tripled ADHD scripts — but the access gains went to the wealthy
Medicare data shows a near-threefold surge in ADHD prescriptions via video consult since 2022, concentrated in Australia's wealthiest postcodes.
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35,000 GPs just received a letter about their COPD prescribing
The safety commission found 70% of COPD patients skip required dual therapy before triple — and sent personalised PBS feedback to GPs across Australia.
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PMOS raises cardiovascular risk four-fold — even when weight is controlled
A Lancet study of 2.4 million women shows PCOS/PMOS increases atherosclerotic heart disease risk four-fold, independent of obesity and other risk factors.
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TGA issues second liver-injury warning for ashwagandha supplements
A second TGA safety alert links ashwagandha to 11 Australian liver injury cases. Who should avoid it and what symptoms matter.
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TGA issues class-wide eye-safety warning for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda are now linked to a rare optic condition causing permanent vision loss. What you need to know.
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Three or more gout flares a year raises heart risk by up to 45%, study finds
A multinational study of 44,705 people shows frequent gout attacks are a significant cardiovascular risk marker — especially for post-menopausal women.
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Blood pressure screening now starts at seven. What Australia just changed.
New Australian guidelines recommend BP screening from age 7–9 — a targeted approach that deliberately diverges from annual US practice from age 3.
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Capvaxive is on the NIP: who's now eligible for a free pneumo vaccine
From 1 July 2026, 1.8 million more Australians can get a free pneumococcal vaccine. The old Pneumovax 23 is out. Here's the new schedule.
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Wellness clinics are selling unapproved peptides — and it's mostly legal
A legal analysis exposes how Australian wellness clinics exploit TGA and AHPRA loopholes to sell BPC-157, CJC-1295, and compounded weight-loss drugs.
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One in three GP practices offers medical abortion. Location decides the rest.
A major Australian study finds geography still determines medical abortion access, even as GP provision has grown twentyfold since 2014.
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Your spouse's dementia raises your risk. The reason isn't what you think.
A Taiwanese study of one million adults finds spouses of people with dementia face elevated dementia risk — and shared lifestyle alone doesn't explain it.
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Zoladex leaves the PBS in November. AstraZeneca says it will stay free.
Goserelin's PBS removal sparked patient advocacy, and AstraZeneca has confirmed a no-cost access program from November for those without alternatives.
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Australia's mesothelioma care gets its first overhaul in 13 years
New national guidelines shift first-line treatment to immunotherapy, set clearer GP referral pathways, and address Australia's unique asbestos legacy.
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Progestogen contraceptives linked to meningioma — what to know
A 25-year Danish study found several progestogen formulations carry elevated meningioma risk. Absolute risk stays very low, but it warrants a GP conversation.
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WHO dementia prevention overhaul: drop the supplements, move more
New WHO guidelines strongly recommend against vitamin B, E, and omega-3 for dementia prevention. Physical activity is now the top evidence-backed intervention.
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Melatonin for chronic pain: what a 23-trial review actually found
A 23-trial meta-analysis finds melatonin modestly reduces chronic pain. In Australia, using it for pain is off-label — here is what the evidence shows.
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Menopause brain fog is real — and GPs are getting a roadmap
AusDoc's GP guide on menopause cognitive symptoms signals that memory lapses and word-finding failures in midlife deserve clinical assessment, not dismissal.
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Australia spends 2% on prevention — and pays for it in billions
Dr Ramya Raman makes the economic case for prevention investment: why Australia spends 2% on prevention and $38 billion on avoidable risk factors each year.
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MS medicines confirmed on PBS: what the ocrelizumab decision means
Federal Health Minister confirms ocrelizumab and ofatumumab remain on the PBS — ending weeks of uncertainty for 33,000 Australians with MS.
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Nurses as first contact: what the scope debate means for your care
Nurses want their own Medicare funding and prescribing rights. GPs warn about fragmented care. Here is what both sides are actually arguing.
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Sarcopenic obesity triples type 2 diabetes risk — muscle mass matters
A 479,607-person study in Diabetes Care finds low muscle mass plus excess fat raises type 2 diabetes risk 3.5 times — especially in women under 60.
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Your phone doesn't cause brain cancer — what the evidence now shows
A WEHI-led review of 63 studies finds no link between mobile phone use and brain cancer. What three decades of research actually shows.
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Two in three GPs say the specialist referral system is failing patients
An Avant survey of 357 GPs exposes systemic specialist access failures, with patients waiting years and GPs managing conditions alone.
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Smoking is not back. Only 5.6% of Australians smoke daily — a record low.
Media claims of a smoking comeback don't match the data. University of Sydney and Melbourne researchers say daily smoking is at a historic low of 5.6%.
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H5N1 bird flu reaches native Australian birds — what this means for you
H5N1 has spread to a native non-migratory seabird in South Australia — a first. Human risk remains low, but wildlife surveillance has shifted into a new phase.
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The decongestant in most cold tablets doesn't work. Here's what does.
Oral phenylephrine — in Lemsip, Codral PE, and Sudafed PE — is ineffective as a nasal decongestant. What works instead, and why it's behind the counter.
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Eating disorders in women peak twice — midlife is the second wave
Binge eating disorder is Australia's most common eating disorder, and it can emerge or worsen in your 40s. What the evidence shows and what to do about it.
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Nurse prescribers can access PBS from October — what patients need to know
New legislation lets designated nurse prescribers issue PBS medicines from 1 October 2026, improving access for aged care, rural, and chronic disease patients.
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RSV overtakes flu and COVID-19 as most-notified respiratory virus
RSV has surpassed flu and COVID-19 for the first time since tracking began, with 83,678 cases in 2026. Over a million Australians over 75 remain unvaccinated.
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TGA suspends Australia's only at-home STI test over false negatives
The TGA suspended the TouchBio chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-test for six months after independent testing found false negative results in the female device.
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Pharmacy reform: why the current model isn't working for patients
The Grattan Institute's 2026 pharmacy report calls the current model opaque and lobby-driven. Here's what real reform would mean for your care.
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Living longer, but sicker: what healthy ageing means for women now
AIHW data reveals the longevity paradox: Australian women live to 85 on average, but healthy life expectancy is just 74. What this means if you're 45.
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Vaping tripled as smoking fell — and that's not a win
AIHW data shows daily e-cigarette use tripled from 2019 to 2023 as tobacco fell. The harm is shifting, not disappearing — what this means in the consult room.
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Australian cancer trials are failing women on sex-disaggregated data
A George Institute study found sex reporting in Australian cancer trials halved since 2016, leaving women with inadequate data on treatment toxicity.
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Online GLP-1 prescribing: 91% of platforms skipped full assessment
A JAMA study found 91.8% of US telehealth platforms prescribed GLP-1 drugs after incomplete assessment. RACGP says Australia has the same pattern emerging.
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Three chronic disease clusters define how Australians age, MJA study finds
A University of Sydney MJA study of 4.4 million Australians found 76% aged 65+ live with multiple conditions, clustered into three distinct patterns.
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Dementia is now Australia's leading cause of death
The AIHW's 2026 national health report confirms dementia has overtaken heart disease. What this means for you, your parents, and the next thirty years.
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GLP-1 injections and fat necrosis: what the case reports show
Subcutaneous fat necrosis at GLP-1 injection sites is being reported. Systematic rotation technique matters more than most patients know.
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Pharmacist prescribing is spreading. Where is the evidence?
A SAX Institute report finds pharmacist prescribing for common conditions lacks robust trial evidence — and RACGP is asking governments to release the data.
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AI diagnostic tools for stroke and diabetes: shaky foundations
A QUT study found 125 clinical AI models for stroke and diabetes were built on unverifiable Kaggle data — a real patient safety concern.
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Online prescribing safety: what the MHR mandate actually means
After a Victorian woman died from an overdose linked to multiple online prescribers, the AMA backs mandatory MHR uploads — but calls it just the floor.
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TGA finds hidden prescription drugs in sexual supplements
Multiple 'natural' enhancement products sold in Australia contain undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil — a serious risk for people on heart medicines.
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AI scribes in your GP's room: high adoption, thin regulation
40% of GPs now use AI scribes regularly, but government documents reveal these tools sit largely outside the TGA's regulatory framework — for now.
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71% fewer heroin callouts: Melbourne injecting room evidence is in
Nine-year Monash study confirms Melbourne's supervised injecting room cut heroin ambulance callouts 71% — the strongest Australian evidence yet.
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$700M youth mental health plan: RACGP flags the GP gap
New Headspace Plus and Youth Specialist Care Centres risk fragmenting care by leaving GPs out — the RACGP is calling it out before the models are locked in.
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GPs lose PBS adrenaline authority — a rural patient safety crisis
The PBAC has removed the exemption letting GPs initiate PBS-subsidised adrenaline, leaving rural patients facing $120–$190 costs or specialist waits of years.
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Pre-eclampsia raises CKD risk up to 15-fold — new cohort study
A Danish study of 286,078 pregnancies links severe proteinuria in pre-eclampsia to a 15.5-fold higher 10-year chronic kidney disease risk.
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TGA flags liver injury risk from ashwagandha supplements
The TGA has issued a safety alert on ashwagandha after reports of liver injury — a risk relevant to anyone using it for stress, sleep, or hormonal support.
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Your BMI is normal — but you could still be clinically obese
Research finds 1 in 4 adults with a normal BMI still meet criteria for clinical obesity. In general practice, that gap has real consequences.
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Eight in ten cardiac patients skip rehab — and the risk is real
Only 1 in 5 Australians who had a cardiac stent attended rehabilitation. New Monash data puts a number on a longstanding and serious gap in care.
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That 'healthier' hard seltzer? Probably ultra-processed.
George Institute audited 534 RTD drinks: 98% were ultra-processed, nearly half carried health claims. Here is what that means for your Friday night.
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NSW GPs can now bulk-bill ADHD assessments — what that means for you
The NSW Government is paying GP practices $600 per patient to bulk-bill ADHD consultations. For adult women who have waited for answers, here's what to know.
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The cardinal feature of long COVID that gets missed most often
New GP guidance names post-exertional malaise as the defining feature of long COVID — and says structured pacing, not pushing through, is the right response.
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Uterine fibroids in your 40s: reassure, refer, or treat?
New GP clinical guidance makes it official: fibroid size doesn't decide management. Symptom burden and your values do. Here's what that shift means.
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One in five of us — what we still get wrong about addiction
Monash researchers say Australia still misreads addiction as moral failing, when evidence-based treatments exist that most people never access.
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NSW sets a THC driving limit — trauma doctors say the science isn't there
NSW introduces a legal 50 ng/mL saliva THC threshold for medicinal cannabis users. Twenty doctors warn it normalises impaired driving.
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Australia's asthma control is still slipping — and the data says why
A new MJA study finds urgent asthma visits rose from 29% to 38% over a decade — even as SABA overuse climbs and guidelines shift to combination therapy.
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Bowel cancer screening and the July 2026 MBS change: what patients need to know
From 1 July 2026, colonoscopy after a positive FOBT has its own MBS item — cutting billing friction for bowel cancer screening follow-up.
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Mild cognitive impairment: what it is, and what it doesn't have to mean
New UNSW analysis: MCI doesn't always become dementia. Up to 28% revert to normal — and 14 modifiable risk factors could cut cases by 45%.
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H5N1 detected in Australian wild birds — what you need to know
H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has reached Australian wildlife for the first time. Human risk is low — but if you handle birds, know the symptoms and when to see your GP.
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Sublocade is leaving the PBS by December — and patients need a plan now
Indivior is withdrawing Sublocade (buprenorphine depot injection) from PBS by end of 2026. Stable patients have six months to plan a transition with their GP.
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New GP incentive for veterans' mental health care starts July 2026
$99.30 DVA Mental Health GP Incentive — co-billable with Medicare MHTP items — launched 1 July 2026, following the Royal Commission into veteran suicide.
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Sleep apnoea in midlife raises dementia risk — Monash data
Monash's Healthy Brain Project finds OSA linked to higher dementia risk scores in 40–70 year olds — and women are the most underscreened group.
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Australia's first GP deprescribing roadmap targets benzos and opioids
SUPPORT-Meds launches Australia's first structured deprescribing program for GPs — focused on benzos for sleep and opioids for chronic non-cancer pain.
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Tasmania extends free MenB vaccine to all infants from 1 July
Tasmania's $4m investment covers meningococcal B for infants 6 weeks to 2 years through general practice — previously private-prescription only.
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Capvaxive on the NIP from 1 July: what changes for your patients
Australia's new 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine Capvaxive joins the NIP from 1 July, with lower age thresholds and a simplified adult schedule.
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NSW medicinal cannabis driving bill: what GPs need to know now
NSW's proposed medcann driving laws replace zero-tolerance THC testing with a graduated framework — what GPs and patients need to know before August.
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Queensland's skin cancer burden: what the QSkin numbers mean
QSkin data: 71% of Queenslanders aged 40–69 accessed skin cancer services over 8.5 years — making prevention the most important GP conversation in the room.
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Prescribing cascades spike when older patients move into aged care
A study of 167,850 Australians finds prescribing cascades jump from 16.7% to 25.1% after aged care entry — a critical gap for GP and pharmacist handover.
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Needle-free adrenaline on the PBS from 1 July — what changes
Neffy, a nasal adrenaline spray for anaphylaxis, joins the PBS on 1 July 2026, making needle-free emergency epinephrine subsidised for the first time.
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SafeScript cut prescription-shopping by 15% — and held the gain
A Monash University study of 810,000 Victorian patients shows real-time prescription monitoring reduced multiple-prescriber events and sustained the fall.
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Bi+ Australians in general practice: new data, persistent gaps
A Kirby Institute survey of 2,100 bi+ Australians finds high GP engagement but major gaps in GP understanding of their specific health needs.
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Freebirth, postpartum haemorrhage, and what the evidence shows
A Melbourne obstetrician says wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke's death from postpartum haemorrhage after an unassisted birth was preventable.
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Most GPs are not comfortable with disability care — a fixable gap
A newsGP poll finds 60 per cent of Australian GPs are not comfortable providing disability care. The gap traces back to training and NDIS design.
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From 1 July: all pathology and radiology reports go to My Health Record
From 1 July 2026, pathologists and radiologists must upload all reports to My Health Record by default. Here is what changes for patients.
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Australian mental health stigma runs deep — MJA survey of 6,000 adults
MJA survey of 6,032 Australians finds persistent stigma toward people with mental health conditions, including one in five doubting their personal worth.
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Australian asthma control is getting worse — MJA nine-year comparison
New MJA research shows asthma control in Australian adults worsened between 2012 and 2021, with urgent care visits up and reliever overuse rampant.
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Abdominal fat is now Australia's leading killer — the AIHW data explained
New AIHW data shows abdominal obesity has nearly doubled since 1995 and is now Australia's leading risk factor for death. What the numbers mean for women at 45.
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You haven't lost focus — you're living in an attention theft economy
Macquarie University researchers explain why concentration is harder than it used to be, and what actually works to get it back.
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NSW makes MND a notifiable disease — what this means for GPs and patients
NSW has become the first jurisdiction globally to classify motor neurone disease as notifiable, creating a mandatory registry and reducing diagnostic delays.
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GLP-1 medications and eating disorders: the screening gap
One in three eating disorder patients in a new JAMA Psychiatry study had used GLP-1 drugs. Australian GPs are being asked to screen before prescribing.
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Measles 2026: NSW outbreak alert and the adults who missed a dose
NSW Health has issued a 2026 inner-Sydney outbreak alert. The overlooked risk isn't children — it's adults aged 20–49 who received only one MMR dose.
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Psilocybin for concussion: Monash opens a $1.5m MRFF trial
Monash University opens enrolment for a $1.5m psilocybin trial targeting persistent post-concussion symptoms. Here's what the research is and isn't yet.
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New flu vaccine trial: what the recombinant difference means this winter
Doherty Institute researchers found a recombinant flu vaccine generated nearly 3× higher antibodies — and the annual-shot fatigue finding is the real story.
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Small-town GP economics: why the numbers don't add up
Medical Republic's new analysis shows small-town GP practices earn 61% of metro hourly revenue — and the July 2025 funding change made things worse.
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Vegemite Kids cuts sodium by 50%. Here's what matters.
New lower-sodium Vegemite Kids is out and polarising. The individual effect is modest — the cumulative population argument is what actually counts.
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Bird flu reaches mainland Australia — and our vaccination rate has halved
H5N1 confirmed in WA wild birds this week. Direct human risk is low, but flu vaccination coverage has dropped from 45% to 26% since 2020.
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Bulk billing is up. So are out-of-pocket costs. Both are true.
New Cleanbill data: every electorate now has a bulk billing clinic, yet out-of-pocket costs rose in 147 of 150 electorates since November 2025.
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A government-backed MHT decision tool is coming. Here's why it matters.
Australia's first structured shared decision-making tool for menopausal hormone therapy is in development, backed by $31m in NHMRC and partner funding.
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Why Ozempic may curb addictions — the brain mechanism explained
Researchers have identified the lateral septum as the brain region linking GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduced alcohol and substance cravings.
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Illegal weight-loss peptides linked to liver damage in Victorian patients
Australia's CMO issued a health alert after six Victorians were hospitalised with acute liver toxicity linked to unapproved Retatrutide peptide products.
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Menopause linked to surge in serious mental health hospitalisations
Australian research: women aged 45–54 spent 16,150 more hospital days than men for depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
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Breast cancer risk tools fall short for women with family history — Cochrane
Cochrane 2026: all four major breast cancer risk models show only modest accuracy for women with family history, limiting personalised decisions.
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What the NSW birth trauma inquiry tells GPs about women leaving maternity care
Analysis of the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry: over 75% of submissions cite disrespect or coercive care — and why this matters for general practice.
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Stroke is the third biggest killer of women — and now striking younger
New RACGP-endorsed AusDoc update: 40,000 strokes a year, third leading cause of death for women, and an increasing burden in younger Australians.
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COVID boosters: 30% of Australians get side effects, most resolve in 3 days
New MJA survey of 197,476 Australians finds injection site reactions and fatigue are common but brief — key data for the booster conversation with your GP.
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Hepatitis B elimination: Australia needs 90% diagnosed — we're at 67%
Doherty Institute data shows Australia won't hit 2030 hepatitis B targets on current trajectory — with 119,000 people needing better care engagement.
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Golden staph: cefazolin now preferred over flucloxacillin in landmark trial
The 14-country SNAP Trial finds cefazolin gives fewer deaths and kidney injuries for golden staph bloodstream infections — guidelines are likely to follow.
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Bowel cancer screening: only 42% completing their kit
New AIHW data shows 42% of eligible Australians completed bowel screening — and GP recommendation is the most effective lever to improve that.
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Early childhood weight gain and earlier puberty: new data
A JAMA study using Australian cohort data finds girls with high BMI trajectories may enter puberty 1.5 years earlier — and the preschool years are key.
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GLP-1 medications and 'food noise': what patients actually say
JAMA interviews 30 GLP-1 users: reduced food noise and variable GP support are the standout themes — with implications for clinical practice.
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Cats and childhood asthma: a 30,000-child study challenges standard advice
Swedish study of 30,277 asthmatic children finds cat ownership doesn't worsen severity or exacerbations — challenging standard avoidance advice.
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Fibromyalgia and obesity: why siloed treatment is failing patients
New analysis shows fibromyalgia and obesity share inflammatory pathways — treating them separately amplifies both conditions.
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The evening egg study and perimenopause sleep
Deakin's nine-week trial found evening eggs don't meaningfully improve sleep in perimenopause — and points toward what evidence actually supports.
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Australia's deadliest drug year on record: seven deaths a day in 2024
Drug-induced deaths hit 2,596 in 2024 — the highest on record. Opioids, benzos and stimulants; and for the first time, the 50s led overdose deaths.
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Finerenone's kidney benefit confirmed beyond diabetes: three major trials
NEJM, JAMA and The Lancet show finerenone reduces kidney failure risk in non-diabetic CKD. 1 in 10 Australians has CKD — many women don't know it.
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Dementia prevention works. Australia's landmark trial is going national
The Maintain Your Brain RCT showed personalised coaching improved cognition over 3 years. Now MYB+ is recruiting 5,000 Australians aged 45–79 nationally.
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1300 MEDICINE helpline closes 30 July: what changes for patients
The pharmacist-staffed 1300 MEDICINE medication advice line closes 30 July 2026 after averaging 900 calls a month. Here is what takes its place.
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Bulk-billing consent rule starts 1 July: what the redesign means
Written consent required for every bulk-billed visit from 1 July. The government is urgently redesigning the rules after GPs flagged aged-care chaos.
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PMD and mental health: the bidirectional link GPs need to act on
A Karolinska study in JAMA Network Open finds premenstrual disorders more than double psychiatric disorder risk — and the reverse holds equally true.
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Colonoscopy and PSA: the gap between detection and survival
A 13-year colonoscopy RCT and updated Cochrane PSA review both find strong cancer detection but no significant all-cause mortality benefit — what that means.
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Endometriosis hormone therapy and bone loss: what 37 studies show
A 2026 meta-analysis confirms all major endometriosis hormone therapies reduce bone mineral density, with losses peaking in the first six months.
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New sterilisation rules for GP clinics — what this means
RACGP guidelines now require GP practices to use washer-disinfectors instead of manual pre-cleaning before sterilising instruments, by early 2028.
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17,000 women later: what the NSW pharmacy UTI trial showed
NSW pharmacists treated over 17,000 women for uncomplicated UTIs in a year, with 80% symptom resolution. The scope-of-practice debate is only starting.
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Social prescribing: when the treatment is community, not chemicals
A UCL study of 19,627 people found social prescribing improves wellbeing and delivers a £9 return per £1 spent — regardless of socioeconomic background.
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Why alcohol sends you straight to the chips: the science
University of Sydney researchers found that alcohol triggers FGF21, a liver hormone creating protein cravings — and ultra-processed snacks can't satisfy.
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A three-tier funding plan could reshape how GPs are paid
The federal Health Department is quietly developing a three-stream Medicare model that ties GP incentive payments to bulk-billing commitments.
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Low-dose Zoladex exits Australia's PBS in November
AstraZeneca is pulling goserelin 3.6 mg from the PBS from November 2026 — here's what people with endometriosis and breast cancer should know.
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Coronial inquest pushes GP mental health checks in firearms licensing
A Victorian coroner found the state's firearms licensing system amounts to rubber-stamping. GP involvement in fitness assessments is now policy-in-motion.
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NDIS eligibility tightening will hit women with chronic illness hardest
Proposed NDIS changes requiring treatment exhaustion first will disproportionately burden women with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and complex multimorbidity.
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Two hours of social media a day raises teens' depression risk — MJA study
A Melbourne longitudinal study of 1,195 teenagers finds more than two hours daily social media use significantly raises depression and anxiety risk one year on.
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AJGP June 2026: a third of long-term antidepressant users lack clear indication
The AJGP June 2026 issue scrutinises long-term antidepressant use in Australia: scant benefit beyond 12 months, documented harms, set-and-forget prescribing.
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Australia's HRT patch shortage: what the SSSI extension means for you
TGA extended estradiol patch substitution arrangements to February 2027. Here's what the Estradot and Estraderm shortage means for women on MHT.
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TGA makes unapproved peptides a compliance priority — what to know
The TGA formally escalated unapproved peptide products as a 2026 enforcement focus. Here's what the crackdown means for patients and GPs.
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Australia's 2025 ACS guideline: what changes for post-heart attack care
The 2025 national ACS guideline sets a new LDL-C target of less than 1.4 mmol/L after a heart attack, with PCSK9 inhibitors now step-up therapy.
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Gut bacteria and your brain: what the 2026 dementia research actually says
Multiple 2026 studies link gut microbiome composition to dementia risk. Here is where the science sits and what it means — and does not mean — for prevention.
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The RACGP refreshed its type 2 diabetes handbook — what changed for GPs
The RACGP has refreshed its type 2 diabetes handbook, elevating GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors alongside persistent PBS access challenges.
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One in three Australian cancer deaths are preventable: what the data shows
Australian research finds tobacco, UV radiation, diet, body weight, and alcohol drive roughly a third of all cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life years.
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Early egg introduction: AU guidelines cut infant egg allergy rates by 18%
A UQ-led study published June 2026 finds a 17.7% relative drop in egg allergy after Australia updated infant feeding guidelines to introduce egg by 6 months.
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Australia flu 2026: triple winter threat, record deaths, and the vaccine gap
The federal government's winter vaccination campaign is now live. After 2025's deadliest flu season this century, here is what you need to know before July.
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TGA approves tolebrutinib for progressive MS: what changes
TGA registers tolebrutinib (Cenrifki) for non-relapsing secondary progressive MS — the first oral therapy for this form of MS in Australia. PBS listing pending.
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eTG June 2026 respiratory update: triple inhalers added to asthma algorithm
Therapeutic Guidelines June 2026 adds triple inhalers for uncontrolled asthma and clarifies how type 2 airway inflammation guides stepwise treatment selection.
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Australia's first perimenopause campaign — what it means at your GP visit
The government's 'Could This Be Perimenopause?' campaign is Australia's first national perimenopause initiative. What it means for GP consultations in 2026.
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Teplizumab approved: Australia can now delay type 1 diabetes onset
The TGA has approved teplizumab (Tzield) to delay stage 3 type 1 diabetes onset — first new T1D therapy in 100 years. What families and GPs need to know.
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Acalabrutinib on the PBS: leukaemia treatment drops from $7000 to $25
Acalabrutinib plus venetoclax is PBS-listed from 1 June 2026 for CLL and SLL, cutting costs by over 99% for an estimated 1200 Australians a year.
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Bowel cancer screening: why the national June campaign matters at 45
The NBCSP expanded to age 45–74. Only 41.7% of eligible Australians complete the test. A new national campaign launched 1 June aims to close that gap.
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Quetiapine for insomnia: new RCT data on next-day driving impairment
A Flinders University RCT found 50 mg quetiapine improved sleep but tripled attention lapses in a driving simulator — relevant for off-label use in insomnia.
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Australia's new movement guidelines: 7,000 steps, not 10,000
Australia's updated 24-hour movement guidelines recommend 7,000 steps daily — and extend balance training to all adults for the first time.
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Elinzanetant: Australia's second non-hormonal option for hot flushes
Lynkuet (elinzanetant) is TGA-registered in Australia — an NK1/NK3 antagonist for women who can't use MHT, including those on breast cancer endocrine therapy.
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Australia's measles resurgence: the post-COVID vaccination gap
181 measles cases in 2025, up from near-zero in 2021. Coverage has dropped to 80% in some areas — the gap is real and the fix is straightforward.
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Emgality now PBS-listed for episodic migraine from June 2026
Galcanezumab (Emgality) expands on the PBS to cover 8 or more migraine days monthly — previously chronic-migraine only. Cost: $25 instead of $530.
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eTG June 2026: new contraceptive options and guidance for women over 50
eTG's June 2026 update adds Slinda and NextStellis contraceptive pills and provides new guidance for women over 50 combining contraception with menopausal HRT.
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TGA: Pharmatech MK-677 capsules contain an undisclosed anabolic steroid
Pharmatech MK-677 capsules contain metandienone, an undisclosed anabolic steroid — TGA June 2026 safety alert, do not take this product.
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Australia's diphtheria outbreak declared nationally significant
221 confirmed cases, 30x the recent baseline — the CMO declared diphtheria a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance in May 2026.
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Heart Foundation's obesity-CVD guide: when GLP-1s make clinical sense
Australia's first obesity-CVD consensus statement formally endorses GLP-1 therapies. The nuance — access, eligibility, evidence — matters.
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Medicare's Mental Health Check In goes self-guided: what the evidence says
Medicare Mental Health Check In now offers self-guided CBT — free, no referral. Evidence is encouraging for mild symptoms and more variable beyond that.
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After cancer, the next risk is your heart — and it's being underdetected
CVD now outranks cancer recurrence as the leading late cause of death in Australian cancer survivors. What that means for monitoring after treatment.
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Blood pressure first-line just changed: PBS now covers dual therapy from day one
From 1 April 2026, fixed-dose antihypertensive combinations are PBS first-line. If your BP hasn't reached target on one drug, here's what changed.
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Australia's first perimenopause campaign: recognition, finally — now what?
Australia's first national perimenopause campaign just launched. Here's what it gets right, what it leaves open, and what to do this week.
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Australia's cardiac rehab problem: real reform, long way to go
A June 2026 MJA InSight+ analysis finds cardiac rehab is under-funded and under-referred — women and First Nations peoples are most shortchanged.
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Australia's lung cancer screen turns one — and the gaps are showing
The NLCSP screened 50,000 high-risk Australians in year one. A 2026 MJA paper warns the program risks failing without urgent investment and equity fixes.
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Australia's women's health PBS package: one year on, what changed
Australia's $573M women's health PBS package has reached 600,000+ women — from MHT to contraception to endometriosis treatment. Here's what it means.
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RACGP wants one door for cannabis prescribing — but who guards it?
RACGP calls Australia's medicinal cannabis prescribing a public health risk and demands a single-step portal — but who guards the simplified door?
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A five-minute screen that could halve the endometriosis diagnosis wait
Six-question SAFE score, built from ALSWH data on 9,000 women, could cut the six-to-eight-year endometriosis diagnostic delay in Australian general practice.
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A national health research strategy at last — and a $300M gender gap to close
Australia's first national health research strategy commits $500M and names gender equity — arriving against a documented $300M NHMRC funding gap.
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Brain scans find an 8% choline drop across anxiety disorders
A 2026 Molecular Psychiatry meta-analysis found lower brain choline across all anxiety subtypes. An Australian trial of 420 is underway. What this means now.
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The Lancet has now defined menopause brain fog — here's what that changes
A Monash-led Lancet paper defines menopause brain fog: real and debilitating even when objective tests are normal. What the definition changes.
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TGA sets clearer rules on compounded medicines — what patients need to know
New TGA guidance from May 2026 clarifies when compounded medicines are lawful, with specific restrictions on GLP-1 analogues, cannabis, and IV therapies.
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RACGP steps up to write the rules for Australia's Urgent Care Clinics
Medicare UCCs are now permanent. The RACGP has offered to write nationally consistent profession-led standards. What this means for continuity of care.
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RSV vaccine Arexvy® is now free for Australians 75 and over
From 15 May 2026, the RSV vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for Australians 75-plus. What the $445m investment means this winter.
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Victoria funds free MenB vaccine for Year 10s — and $250 is the number
Victoria's 2026–27 budget commits $9m to free meningococcal B vaccine for Year 10 students from January 2027, removing a $250-plus cost barrier.
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GPs can now diagnose ADHD: what Victoria's reform means for women
Victoria committed $750,000 to train 150 GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD. Adult women remain the most underdiagnosed ADHD demographic in Australia.
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RACGP launches 2026–30 plan: what 'the system must do better' means
The RACGP unveiled its Advocacy Plan 2026–30 at the Practice Owners Conference in Sydney. Here is what the five priorities mean for you.
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Spirometry down 31%: Australia's COPD diagnostic blind spot
National spirometry testing fell 31 per cent in seven years. Six in ten Australians with COPD have never had a confirmatory breath test done.
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Bulk billing hits 81%: what Australia's record jump means
Australia's GP bulk billing rate hit 81.4% — the biggest quarterly jump in 20 years. 97% of Australians now within 20 minutes of a bulk billing practice.
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3 in 5 new dads never asked about their mental health
Movember's 2026 fatherhood report finds 60% of Australian new fathers were never screened for mental health in the first year after birth.
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PCOS is now PMOS: what the rename means for your care
Polycystic ovary syndrome has been officially renamed PMOS in a global Lancet consensus led by Monash. Here is what changes — and what does not.
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ANDEXXA delisted: Australia loses its only specific Factor Xa reversal agent
Australia's only ARTG-approved Factor Xa reversal agent has been delisted. What changes for patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban.
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Australia's first national menopause campaign launches today
The government's $792.9m women's health package now includes a national menopause campaign running through December 2026, backed by new Medicare coverage.
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High-THC medicinal cannabis linked to psychiatric harms: new AU data
Monash research finds Category 5 medicinal cannabis products account for over half of TGA adverse event reports, dominated by anxiety, psychosis, and paranoia.
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Less than 1% of Australians with insomnia get the recommended treatment
CBTi is the first-line recommended treatment for insomnia — but fewer than 1% of people with insomnia in Australia currently receive it.
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Bowel cancer rising in younger Australians — what the microbiome data shows
Bowel cancer rates are 2-3 times higher in 1990s-born Australians. Mater Research is investigating the gut microbiome and food additive link.
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Zoladex 3.6mg leaving the PBS in November — what women on goserelin need to know
AstraZeneca is withdrawing goserelin 3.6mg from the PBS from 1 November 2026. Women with endometriosis and HR+ breast cancer need to understand the impact now.
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Concerta shortage extended to December 2026 — what ADHD patients need to know
TGA confirms Concerta methylphenidate remains in shortage until end of 2026. Practical options for patients navigating the gap.
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Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak — what it means for your vaccination
230+ cases in 2026 — Australia's worst-ever diphtheria outbreak. Here's what the data shows and who should check their vaccination status.
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Medicare Urgent Care Clinics go permanent — the access win and the trade-off
$1.8 billion makes 135 bulk-billed UCCs a permanent fixture. Here's what it means for access — and why continuity of care still matters.
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Andexanet alfa withdrawn in Australia — what patients on apixaban need to know
Andexxa (andexanet alfa) lost provisional TGA approval on 20 May 2026 — here's what patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban need to know.
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Medicare urgent care clinics go permanent — what this means for your GP care
The government locked in $1.8B to make Medicare UCCs permanent. RACGP calls for profession-led standards and better handover to GPs.
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TGA warns against importing unapproved peptides sold online for anti-ageing
BPC-157, TB-500 and other injectable peptides circulate online with anti-ageing claims but lack TGA approval or any human safety assessment.
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Psilocybin and MDMA in Australian psychiatry — three years in
Three years after TGA approved psychiatrist-only prescribing of psilocybin and MDMA, what the AU rollout has actually looked like and what it means clinically.