Bitter pill as drug testing is outlawed
Pill testing has been banned in Queensland after strict new laws were passed in parliament by the state government.
health
Fourth death during Optus triple zero outage confirmed
A West Australian has become the fourth confirmed death linked to an Optus outage that prevented customers from calling triple zero.
Mist opportunities: nasal spray to boost flu immunity
Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated against the flu, with the planned rollout of new immunisation methods to help overcome needle anxiety.
Government put on notice over nursing home bed block
State health ministers have put their federal counterpart on blast over a major shortage of aged care beds, which is clogging up the nation's hospital system.
Veterans on frontline for algal bloom response
Defence force veterans are set to patrol Adelaide beaches, helping clean up thousands of marine creatures wiped out by a harmful algal bloom.
DR Congo reports 15 deaths in new Ebola outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry says a new Ebola outbreak in the country is suspected of having caused 15 deaths.
Shift needed to help young asthmatics breathe easier
A peak body is highlighting National Asthma Awareness Week by driving a cultural shift in how asthma is treated in childhood - from relievers to preventers.
Premier cops questions over dumping of health official
A dispute over the appointment of a top health official has led to a corruption watchdog being asked to investigate a state premier and his cabinet.
Slow uptake in GPs prescribing ADHD medication
Barely a trickle of GPs have trained to prescribe ADHD medication despite reforms designed to save patients the expense of seeing a specialist psychiatrist.
Home care help kicks in sooner after political backflip
The rollout of thousands of extra home care spots has been brought forward by the federal government after intense pressure from political rivals.
Young LGBTQI Aussies celebrate pride with bold colour
Wear It Purple Day celebrates bold voices and bright futures in the LGBTQI community in the face of pressures on their rights, health and inclusion.
‘Tremendous victory’: nurses secure nation- leading pay
Following months of talks, a state's nurses and midwives are set to become the nation's highest paid after agreeing on a new wage deal.
Baby’s heart issue missed at ultrasound, coroner hears
Parents of a baby who died in hospital just hours after birth say they have faced an anxious two-year wait for answers over their daughter's death.
Lives on the line with $8b deficit in rural health
Some country towns are being forced to fundraise for their own community-led medical centres, while those in the cities get double the healthcare funding.
Huge cost of missing early intervention for children
A failure to identify health and development issues in young Australians is costing $22.3 billion annually, described as a "wake-up call" for governments.
More details sought on plan to shift autism from NDIS
Children with autism and developmental delay will be moved off the NDIS and onto a new program, but advocates are concerned about how it will impact parents.
Doctor accused of filming in toilets walks from court
A junior doctor accused of filming staff in hospital toilets and showers has not revealed whether he will fight more than 130 charges levelled against him.
Aussie sunscreen product rubbed out after testing fail
A popular brand's sunscreen has been withdrawn from shelves after it failed to deliver consistent SPF ratings during independent testing.
‘Pains me to the heart’: MP fears NDIS autism changes
Anxious parents of autistic children are urging for adequate supports to be in place as proposed changes to the disability scheme take communities off-guard.
Details of review into IVF bungle to remain a secret
A review has found human error and technology limitations were to blame for embryo mix-ups at a leading IVF clinic but its full details will remain a secret.
Biotech giant to slash 3000 jobs, spin-off vaccine arm
Pharmaceutical giant CSL has announced a major shake-up for its vaccination arm and for jobs as the company aims to cut costs.
The wrong fit: children with autism moved off NDIS
A plan to divert children with autism and development delays from the NDIS is crucial to ensure the scheme remains sustainable, the disability minister says.
Animals may be ‘threatened species’ after algal bloom
An assessment of the devastation to marine animals caused by an unprecedented algal bloom will be fast-tracked by the federal government.
Poor effort, one-star: experts pan health rating uptake
Only one-third of packaged foods in supermarkets display health star ratings, making it difficult for consumers to compare items and identify healthy options.
Eat your fruit and veggies to help your mental health
A new study suggests a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help alleviate psychological distress.
Trek tackles heart disease cruelling Indigenous lives
The Deadly Heart Trek is visiting remote communities, to educate, and treat rheumatic heart disease, which disproportionately affects Indigenous people.
Novo Nordisk warns of layoffs as pressure mounts
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, Europe's most valuable company, is eyeing potential cost-cutting measures.
Life-saving tech for kids absent at under-fire hospital
An inquiry has found a purportedly world-class hospital lacks essential technology, duplicates training and operates in isolation from a state health network.
First robotic surgery gives granny ’15 minutes of fame’
A grandmother has successfully undergone Australia's first robotic shoulder replacement, saying she is enjoying her "15 minutes of fame".
Australia paying lip service to Closing the Gap: Thorpe
The latest Closing the Gap report on Indigenous disadvantage has found just four of 19 targets have improved, leading some to question the point of the goals.
Clinics axed as mental health patients count cost
A private hospital giant is set to close all but three of its psychology clinics as data shows more patients putting off treatment due to cost pressures.