Qld passes new health practitioners laws
Queensland health practitioners will be more strictly regulated by federal watchdogs after new laws were passed by state parliament.
health
Consultation ‘oversight’ in clinic closure
An inquest into the death of Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker has been told Aboriginal health staff should have been consulted over an evacuation decision.
Australia ends mandatory COVID isolation
It's no longer necessary for people with COVID-19 to isolate, with Australian authorities scrapping rules which have been in place for years.
Ruby Princess companies reject COVID blame
Ruby Princess's operators were well aware a cruise was in jeopardy of a COVID-19 outbreak before it set sail and 28 people died, a class action trial has heard.
Another resignation at north Qld hospital
Another staff member has resigned at the Mackay Hospital and Health Service after a report into the facility's failures.
Ditch pig eradication programs: experts
Feral pigs are a major problem for Australian farms and ecosystems but scientists say trying to exterminate them won't work.
Fluoridated water safe for children: study
Fluoridated water is safe, according to a Queensland study that found no difference in development and function between kids who drank it and those that didn't.
Regulator suspends Tas chief psychiatrist
Tasmania's chief psychiatrist, who has also held the role in several other states, has had his licence suspended by the national regulator.
Doctors alarmed over easing COVID-19 rules
Another COVID-19 wave is on its way to Australia, with the nation's peak medical body urging federal and state governments to rethink winding back restrictions.
Melbourne COVID-19 quarantine hub to close
A purpose-built quarantine facility in Melbourne is closing nine months after opening to international travellers as a COVID-19 precaution.
Full medical school to open in Cairns
Medical students will soon be able to complete their full degrees in Cairns in what is hoped will be a boost to efforts to retain doctors in regional areas.
Monash hospital to undergo $560m expansion
The Victorian government will spend up to $560 million to upgrade Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne's southeast as the healthcare system struggles with demand.
Health warnings after isolation scrapped
The decision by federal, state and territory leaders to scrap mandatory COVID-19 isolation periods for most Australians has been criticised by health experts.
Poor Queensland hospital care “life-altering”
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has handed down a report into alleged malpractice at Mackay Hospital and broader capacity problems in the health system.
Hidden surgery waiting lists a ‘scandal’
Hidden wait times for elective surgery mean it's impossible for patients to make an informed decision about whether to go public or private, the AMA says.
Weed killer detected in Australian urine
A study has found eight per cent of urine samples collected from a group of Australians contain a common weed killer, while farmers spraying it had high levels.
Koalas at risk of extinction, experts warn
Koalas are under threat and could eventually disappear due to urban expansion, loss of habitat, disease and climate change, wildlife experts claim.
Interim tick for Pfizer infant booster
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has given provisional approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 booster to be used in children aged six months to five years.
Australia remains vulnerable to new COVID-19 variants: review
Australia is not well-prepared should another variant of COVID-91 sweep through the country, a review of vaccine and treatment procurement has found.
The passion and politics of rural medicine
After nearly five decades working in rural medicine, Professor Dennis Pashen has been described as an "icon" for his advocacy for better healthcare in the bush.
Ex ice addict welcomes Perrottet reforms
Offering counselling to people caught with small amounts of drugs could help users kick their addictions, a recovering addict says.
Lockdowns hit happiness more than cases
Lockdowns throughout the pandemic affected the mental health of Australians, particularly men, more than hearing rising case numbers, a new study shows.
Increase in Victorian euthanasia deaths
The number of voluntary assisted deaths in Victoria increased by about one third in 2021-22 with a report finding the law is operating as intended.
NSW govt’s $500m response to ice inquiry
Drug users in NSW will have more opportunities to get help before ending up in jail, as part of the government's long-awaited $500m response to the ice inquiry.
Major step to booster for young children
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the Pfizer booster for children aged five to 11, with a decision pending on its rollout.
Vic to trial COVID nasal spray treatment
A COVID-19 nasal spray designed to reduce a person's viral load will undergo a six-month clinical trial in Victoria.
SA and NSW drop masks on public transport
South Australia and NSW have dropped requirements for mask wearing on public transport in the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Doctors ‘need a carrot’ to stay rural
Rural medical clinics say doctors are leaving to work in urban areas or asking for more money to stay in the bush since the Labor government increased the number of workforce priority areas.
New vaccine facility set for Monash uni
A new mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will be based in Melbourne under an agreement the prime minister says will safeguard against future health crises.
Study confirms mRNA vax safe in pregnancy
Pregnant women vaccinated with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines reported fewer side effects than non-pregnant women, according to a Canadian study.
Tumour bank helps fight aggressive cancer
Over more than a decade, about 350 samples have been collected and housed in a Queensland brain tumour bank, creating a valuable resources for researchers.