In a major boost for primary health care, the Australian Government is further strengthening telehealth arrangements as recommended by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and other medical experts. Under stage seven of telehealth reforms announced today, Medicare-subsidised telehealth services, introduced as a key part of…
Over the past 12 months, 86.1% of Australians did not have to pay to visit their GP. Figures for the past 12 months show: • An increase of more than 5.5 million free bulk-billed GP visits compared to the same period last year • The number of fully subsidised services across Medicare rose with an…
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) has been amended from 1 July 2020 to improve protection for those most at risk against the potentially fatal meningococcal disease. For the first time, the Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) is being made available for free to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under two years, who are almost…
The Australian Government will provide almost $4.5 million to Edith Cowan University in Western Australia to continue support for its Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website and associated resources. The website provides easy access to a wide range of information as well as a knowledge exchange and online discussions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.…
The importance of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been underlined with new and amended medicines listings on the PBS, and an extension to emergency dispersing measures to support patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1 July the medicine Ozempic® (semaglutide) will be listed on the PBS as a new treatment option for type 2…
The Morrison Government is investing $19 million in transformative medical research projects using game-changing applied artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, to improve the ways we prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions. The Government is providing more than $8 million for two projects that will use AI to improve mental health treatments…
The Australian Government will provide more than $1 million to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, to support a clinical trial of new therapies for young patients who cannot make enough blood cells due to bone marrow failure. The RESELECT clinical trial will test a number of new treatments for relapsed acquired aplastic anaemia or Bone Marrow…
Australia’s commitment to support the health and wellbeing of our Pacific Island neighbours remains steadfast, with four new research projects totalling more than $8.3 million to tackle the threat of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Pacific region. DR-TB and AMR are major emerging health threats to Pacific Island countries.…
Australia’s medical experts, including the AHPPC, have warned of the health dangers of e-cigarettes. This is consistent with the existing ban in all states and territories on the sale of e-cigarettes containing vaporiser nicotine. Smoking rates in Australia have declined significantly over the past two decades, from 22.3 per cent in 2001 to…
The Morrison Government is investing $21.8 million in vital research that could mean major breakthroughs in treating a range of neurological disorders, including early Alzheimer’s disease, autism and encephalitis. This research could change lives. It could save lives. Neurological disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia. They account for a third of all…