The Morrison Government is implementing temporary, emergency measures to ensure people affected by the current bushfire situation are able to continue to receive Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised medicines when a doctor’s prescription is not immediately available. These changes will help people with ongoing medical needs including those with asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease…
The Morrison/McCormack Government has put in place emergency protocols to expedite the process of getting GPs and allied health workers to bushfire-affected communities where they are needed most. The Department of Health and Department of Human Services will prioritise all applications from doctors who want to work in medical practices in bushfire-affected communities. …
The Australian Government is now supplying more than 1.8 million P2 face masks to assist frontline workers and those at risk in communities affected by the bushfires. The Government is providing more than 1 million masks to NSW, 455,400 to Victoria, approximately 400,000 to the ACT, 19,200 to Australia Post, and 3000 to the…
The Australian Government has, for the first time, deployed Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) specialists in a domestic setting to provide medical support to people evacuated from bushfire-affected communities. The eight specialists – two doctors, two nurses, two paramedics and two logisticians – have been deployed to RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria to…
The Morrison Government has delivered on its election commitment, significantly lowering the threshold for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net from 1 January 2020. This means from today, more than 1.6 million concessional and general patients will get earlier access each year to free or significantly cheaper PBS medicines. The PBS Safety…
The Morrison Government has taken action to reduce the effects of ‘bill shock’ from unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenses. A new Medical Costs Transparency website will – for the first time – show Australian patients typical out-of-pocket costs for common treatments and procedures in the private system. Australian patients will be able to search…
Up to $13.5 million in health and medical research grants over three years is available for Indigenous-led projects to drive improvements in outcomes for four key health challenges. The grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $160 million, 10-year investment in the Indigenous Health Research Fund from the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund.…
The Morrison Government’s reforms to make private health insurance simpler and more affordable have delivered the lowest annual premium change in 19 years. The average industry premium change for 2020, which will take effect on 1 April, will be 2.92 per cent, down approximately 50 per cent since Labor’s last year in office. This is…
The Morrison Government is investing $437 million in ground-breaking health and medical research projects across Australia aimed at delivering better treatments, diagnosis and care. A total of 495 projects will receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) following a competitive process. Projects include $68 million for cancer research, $58…
The Morrison Government welcomes the release of the Independent Review of Nursing Education—Educating the Nurse of the Future. The Government commissioned the review to ensure nurses are adequately equipped to meet the needs of Australia’s future health system. Nurses are the largest single health profession in Australia, and comprise more than 40 per…