World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and consider what actions we can all take to tackle this disease. Australia has very good cancer survival rates but of course we can and must do better – and we’re continuing to strive to do this. And while medical research, better screening, diagnosis and treatment…
To help protect our youngest Australians from the devastating consequences of meningococcal, the Turnbull Government will add a quad-strain vaccine to the National Immunisation Program (NIP). The new vaccine (Nimenrix) covers against A, C, W and Y strains (MenACWY) and will be added to the NIP ahead of the next peak meningococcal season which, based…
More than 5,000 Australians every year who suffer from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis will benefit from affordable access to a major new life-changing medicine from today. It’s part of the Turnbull Government’s rock solid commitment to guaranteeing Medicare – which includes ensuring Australian patients have access to medicines when they need it. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is…
Following the unanimous advice of the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling in August 2015, an important change that will help save lives comes into effect today for medicines containing codeine. Codeine is an opioid drug that can cause opioid tolerance, dependence, toxicity and in high doses, death. Many people also develop severe health issues due…
The Turnbull Government is boosting its commitment to preventive health by providing $10 million for new research projects that focus on preventing disease and keeping people out of hospital. These projects are the first investments under the Medical Research Future Fund in the Australian Prevention Partnership Centre. It’s part of the Turnbull Government’s unprecedented commitment…
The Turnbull Government has today launched a new national strategy to help tackle asthma, while also providing an additional $1 million for an asthma support program in schools. One in ten Australians suffer from asthma and it is one of the most common chronic conditions among children. This is a significant health challenge for individuals…
Modelling by Deloitte shows that Labor’s plan to scrap lower-cost policies would result in a 16 per cent increase in private health insurance premiums for millions of Australians. That would make cover unaffordable for many individuals, families and pensioners. Labor has always hated private health insurance. In Government, Labor cut $4 billion from the rebate…
The Turnbull Government is improving Australia’s Life Saving Drugs Program to ensure patients with rare and life threatening diseases continue to get access to vital medicines. Patients will be better supported by a new process for listing drugs on the Program, which includes expanded criteria to consider medicines which both extend a patient’s life and…
The Turnbull Government’s reforms to take the pressure off private health insurance has today delivered the lowest annual premium change in almost two decades. Health funds will have average weighted premium increases of 3.95 per cent from 1 April 2018. This is the lowest since 2001 and lower than any year under the Rudd and…
The Turnbull Government is providing $20 million to run a new trial program, through community pharmacies across Australia, which will support people suffering from on-going chronic pain. Under the Pain MedsCheck trial pharmacists will assist patients who are taking medication to deal with on-going chronic pain of three or more months. Through the…
