World-first for drivers who use medicinal cannabis
Thousands of medicinal cannabis users will be able to take the wheel without fear of losing their licence under groundbreaking reforms to drug driving laws.
medicine
‘Gives women options’: chemists to prescribe the pill
Women in the regions will be able to save themselves what can be a long trip to the doctor's as pharmacies become eligible to prescribe the contraceptive pill.
One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce fires up anti-abortion rally
One Nation firebrand Barnaby Joyce has capitalised on his party's rise in the polls by appearing at a pro-life rally urging a vote against the major parties.
Government accused of slow response to disease outbreak
Vaccine hesitancy, health staff shortages and overcrowding in remote communities could all be causes of a diphtheria outbreak, the federal health minister says.
Reported diphtheria death denied by health authority
A territory health authority says the death of a man in an outback hospital is in no way linked to diphtheria despite media reports to that effect.
Misconceptions cloud palliative care as population ages
Australians have been urged to start conversations about end-of-life care as the nation's ageing population puts palliative care in the spotlight.
More women set to skip the doctor to get the pill
Many women at low risk of complications will soon be able to access the contraceptive pill without a trip to their GP, but the rollout will not be swift.
Funding deal rejected as elderly languish in hospital
State and territory health ministers have rejected a Commonwealth public hospital funding offer, as an ageing population stretches the system beyond capacity.
Exhibition celebrates power of Indigenous healing
A museum dedicated to the history of medicine has re-opened with an exhibition acknowledging 65,000 years of Indigenous knowledge and healing.
Trump links autism to Tylenol, claim disputed by medics
US President Donald Trump says there is a link between the use of pain medication Tylenol and autism during pregnancy, a claim doctors dispute.
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.
Survey confirms vicious cycle of epilepsy and anxiety
Australians with epilepsy are being urged to push their GPs and specialists to seek out different therapies until a successful one is found.
Children bearing the brunt of ADHD medicine shortage
Unable to access their usual doses of ADHD medication due to an international shortage, Australian children and teenagers face increasing risks of side effects.
PM poll pledge to slash cost of hundreds of medicines
The maximum price of many prescription medicines will be reduced to $25 as part of Labor's re-election plan to bring down healthcare costs.
Chronic patients get most relief in medicine cost cut
Patients could save almost $7 on each prescription as the government promises to make medicines cheaper in a move supported by the coalition.
IVF, contraception drugs cheaper as birth rate dips
Several women's health drugs are being made cheaper as the government aims to boost the success of IVF treatments and help those suffering a painful condition.
Church members who killed girl ‘wanted to play God’
As they await their sentences for killing a girl, members of a church group have been told by her sister that God would eventually judge them for taking a life.
Rarer dementia a rollercoaster of debilitating ailments
Little is known about a form of dementia that affects more than 100,000 Australians but researchers are looking to build knowledge on the debilitating illness.
Mum accused of poisoning child seeks protective custody
The lawyer for a woman accused of giving her child unauthorised medication wants her to be in protective custody due to the publicity of the case.
Mum accused of poisoning baby in $60k social media scam
Police allege a mother gave her child unauthorised prescription medications to build a social media following and gain thousands of dollars in donations.
Bulk billing dips with GP care more complex and costly
Patients who rely on Medicare have fewer options as more clinics stop taking new bulk-billed patients, according to a study prompting calls for more funding.
‘Drugs are illegal’: premier’s warning over test trial
Drug takers are being warned they could still be arrested despite a state government waving through a pill-testing trial at music festivals over the summer.
Record number of GPs in training but ‘job not done’
Australia is facing a severe shortage of GPs. Though more medical students are opting to become local doctors, peak medical bodies say more must be done.
Doctors sore over radical pharmacist treatment plan
Patients could bypass GPs and be treated by pharmacists for some conditions under a proposed overhaul which has raised the ire of doctors.
Refugee doctors revive careers cut short by conflict
With their homes torn apart by war and conflict, refugee doctors in Queensland are getting an opportunity to be back in hospitals until they qualify to work.
Doctors demand answers over end-of-life care funding
A peak medical body is calling for urgent end-of-life care funding in the Queensland budget and an explanation as to where previous funding has gone.
Survey shows culture of bullying in trainee doctors
People who identify as non-binary experienced the highest rate of bullying among medical trainees, a national survey has found.
Subsidy for new treatment of ‘national cancer’ melanoma
A cutting-edge treatment for advanced melanoma will soon be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with 940 patients expected to benefit.
Over-the-counter cannabis pain relief on the horizon
Australians may be able to buy cannabis pain relief without a prescription in about 12 months with final clinical trials underway for a dissolvable tablet.
Rewards of going rural, as doctors push for recognition
Young doctors are more likely to choose to live and work in country Australia if rural generalist medicine is recognised as a specialty, medical colleges say.
Pact puts handbrake on ‘defining technology of our age’
A pact on artificial intelligence is intended to protect people from harm without stifling breakthroughs in vaccines, computing and defence.