News Articles
UK PM wants to ban cigarettes for younger generations
Date of Posting: 05-10-2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has proposed banning younger generations from ever buying cigarettes, a move which would give the United Kingdom some of the world's toughest anti-smoking rules. The proposals - if they pass into law - would make the Read More...
Hospital rape charge dropped for victim's mental health
Date of Posting: 05-10-2023
A 13-year-old boy accused of raping a fellow patient in a West Australian hospital crawled into his alleged victim's room to avoid being spotted by night-shift nurses, court documents claim. Prosecutors dropped the charges against the teen ami Read More...
Pacific nation pledges to eliminate cervical cancer
Date of Posting: 05-10-2023
One of Australia's closest neighbours has committed to becoming the first Pacific nation to eliminate cervical cancer. Women in Vanuatu will have access to life-saving screening services, vaccination and treatment as part of a program supporte Read More...
Boris Johnson dismissive of disaster: UK COVID inquiry
Date of Posting: 04-10-2023
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson was "dismissive of disaster" and labelled long COVID as "bollocks" in 2020, the UK COVID-19 Inquiry has been told. The Bereaved Families for Justice group said there was a "leade Read More...
New tuberculosis cases detected amid SA outbreaks
Date of Posting: 04-10-2023
A young child is one of two new tuberculosis cases identified in South Australia as health authorities scramble to get on top of separate outbreaks. The child under the age of five was linked to a cluster discovered in the Murraylands region last Read More...
Diagnosing concussion could be as easy as a blood test
Date of Posting: 04-10-2023
Researchers are one step closer to creating a blood test to diagnose concussion. A Monash University-led study assessed the blood results of patients who presented to The Alfred Hospital emergency department within six hours of injury.[subscribe] Read More...
Virtual physiotherapy consultations the way of the future
Date of Posting: 04-10-2023
When most people think of physiotherapy, they envision hands-on treatment. However, with telehealth options on the rise is this also the new future of physiotherapy in Australia? Coviu Director and former Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) Read More...
WHO backs malaria jab that will be rolled out next year
Date of Posting: 03-10-2023
The World Health Organisation has recommended the use of a second malaria vaccine to curb the life-threatening disease spread to humans by some mosquitoes. "Almost exactly two years ago, WHO recommended the broad use of the world's first Read More...
Sexual assaults plague Australia's mental heath wards
Date of Posting: 03-10-2023
More than 1500 people have reportedly been sexually assaulted or harassed in mental health wards across Australia over the past six years. Among them is 13-year-old girl Florence (not her real name) who was allegedly raped at Perth Children's Read More...
Scientists win Nobel for work that led to COVID vaccine
Date of Posting: 03-10-2023
Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The award was given to Katalin Kariko, a professor at Sagan's University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the Read More...
NZ PM Hipkins reveals positive COVID-19 test
Date of Posting: 02-10-2023
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive to COVID-19 and has been forced into virtual campaigning ahead of the October 14 election. Mr Hipkins' campaign team cancelled his Sunday morning plans after the Labour leader woke u Read More...
Most Aussies would hide mental health issues from work
Date of Posting: 02-10-2023
A majority of Australians would hide their mental health status from their employers as fears of unfair treatment in the workplace persist. Wayahead data reveals seven in 10 Australians wouldn't tell their employer about a condition, while 53 Read More...
Polyclinics vs. Private Healthcare Clinics in Singapore: A Comparative Insight
Date of Posting: 01-10-2023
Singapore's healthcare landscape offers a myriad of options for those seeking medical attention. At the heart of this provision are two dominant players: the polyclinics and private healthcare clinics. For the uninitiated, making a choice between Read More...
Breast cancer cases climb, screening drop over pandemic
Date of Posting: 01-10-2023
Women are being urged to take the health of their breasts seriously as rates of the deadly cancer climb. The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare estimates about 20,428 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, up from 19,866 tw Read More...
'Shameful' palliative care cut to fund NSW nurses
Last Updated: 01-10-2023
A promised funding boost for end-of-life care in NSW will be cut by $150 million to help hire more nurses to fill staff shortages. Premier Chris Minns confirmed the change, saying part of the $750 million pledged by the former coalition government Read More...
Clean the house or take the stairs, it's good for you
Date of Posting: 01-10-2023
Moving your body for short bursts of vigorous activity every day for just one to three minutes can significantly cut the risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death. A new study has found it can be just as beneficial as being active for 10 mi Read More...
Disability inquiry outlines the pathway for change
Date of Posting: 29-09-2023
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DISABILITY ROYAL COMMISSION: * A Disability Rights Act set up by the federal government[subscribe] * The act would give the right to non-discrimination and equal recognition before the law, as well as access to equitabl Read More...
Bid to ease access to meds for women 'looming disaster'
Date of Posting: 29-09-2023
Women suffering urinary tract infections could soon be spared time, money and a lot of pain by accessing medication straight from the pharmacist, but the proposal has drawn scathing criticism from doctors who warn of a "looming disaster". Read More...
Concern after another TB outbreak detected
Date of Posting: 29-09-2023
A young child is among five people receiving treatment amid a tuberculosis outbreak in South Australia. The cluster in the state's eastern Murraylands region, including four active cases diagnosed since April, poses no risk to the wider commun Read More...
Fake nurse jailed for jabbing without qualifications
Date of Posting: 27-09-2023
A serial liar is behind bars after she repeatedly pretended to be a nurse and injected patients with vaccines despite having no qualifications. Alison Jane Mibus was sentenced in Adelaide Magistrates Court to four months and 28 days in prison afte Read More...
Access to pill eased and more pharmacy scripts in sight
Date of Posting: 27-09-2023
Women will have easier access to the pill in NSW and those with common skin conditions could be next as the state considers expanding pharmacy prescription trials. Under the change, women will be able to obtain a prescription for a 12-month resupp Read More...
Medical groups push for promised CBD injecting room
Date of Posting: 27-09-2023
Health leaders have penned an open letter pleading for the urgent opening of a supervised injecting room in Melbourne's CBD after "countless" overdoses. In the letter addressed to Daniel Andrews and published before he announced his Read More...
'Basic healthcare': urgent call for injecting room
Date of Posting: 26-09-2023
Health leaders are pleading with Victoria's premier to urgently open a supervised injecting room in Melbourne's CBD after "countless" overdoses. In an open letter published before Daniel Andrews announced his resignation on Tuesd Read More...
Prescription pilot just the tonic for pharmacists
Date of Posting: 26-09-2023
Queensland pharmacists will be able to prescribe the pill and asthma medications under a pilot program being expanded across the state. The pilot was initially planned for north Queensland but now hundreds more pharmacists who register and undergo Read More...
National vape ban 'needed quickly' as state cracks down
Date of Posting: 26-09-2023
A national ban on retailers selling vapes should be urgently brought in to curb easy access to illicit products containing nicotine, the NSW premier says. The state government on Monday committed $6.8 million over three years for enforcement of va Read More...
Sharp rise in global cholera cases last year
Last Updated: 25-09-2023
The number of cholera cases around the world have more than doubled in the past year, according to new figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2022, some 470,000 cases were reported, a dramatic rise from the figure of 220,000 cases th Read More...
Ambulance ramping soars to record high
Date of Posting: 25-09-2023
Ambulance ramping has soared to record highs, with paramedics wasting thousands of hours outside Queensland hospitals. Documents tabled in state parliament reveal the ambulances lost 16,036 hours in May, setting a monthly record high in ramping ti Read More...
Young and healthy but defenceless to deadly infection
Date of Posting: 25-09-2023
Strapping young Brayden Chater was a great defender for his local rugby league team who loved to tackle. Which is ironic, because the lack of a meningococcal B vaccine on the NSW immunisation schedule left him completely defenceless against the di Read More...
Artificial intelligence could be future of cancer care
Date of Posting: 24-09-2023
Artificial intelligence may have blown up with the launch of ChatGPT but for years, scientists have been pondering how the technology might improve cancer care. It's already being used in some hospitals around the world but experts say patient Read More...
UK pharmacy chain to stop selling single-use vapes
Date of Posting: 24-09-2023
British pharmacy chain Superdrug will stop selling single-use vapes, the company says, citing the environmental impact caused by their disposal and the popularity of the products among young people. Almost five million disposable vapes are thrown Read More...
Common virus likely cause of venue's gastro outbreak
Date of Posting: 24-09-2023
A mass gastro outbreak linked to a Melbourne function venue was likely caused by a common virus. Victoria's health department had been notified of the gastroenteritis outbreak at The Park Melbourne on September 13 and 16 across separate events Read More...
Plea to take up free Japanese encephalitis jab
Date of Posting: 22-09-2023
There's a plea for more Victorians to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis this summer with the jab available for free in regional areas. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and most people do not become sick but symptoms can incl Read More...
Period products to be made free in Spain's Catalonia
Date of Posting: 22-09-2023
Catalonia will provide reusable menstrual cups, period pants and pads for free at pharmacies to counter so-called "period poverty", as the Spanish region follows Scotland with one of the first initiatives of its kind. The products are du Read More...
Abortion decriminalised in WA amid sweeping reforms
Date of Posting: 21-09-2023
Abortion has been removed from Western Australia's criminal code and access will be easier for women, in sweeping reforms passed by the state parliament. The amended laws to address inequity bring WA into line with other jurisdictions and remo Read More...
PM set to announce COVID-19 inquiry
Date of Posting: 21-09-2023
Federal Labor is poised to announce an inquiry into how Australia handled the coronavirus pandemic, with details expected soon. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is likely to make the announcement alongside Health Minister Mark Butler in Adelaide on Read More...
Basic eye test could diagnose diabetes and hypertension
Date of Posting: 21-09-2023
Scientists have developed a new method of diagnosing diabetes and high blood pressure that involves shining light into a patient's eyes. Researchers say the procedure has the potential to enable earlier intervention and more effective medical Read More...
Jump in women diagnosed with under-recognised condition
Date of Posting: 20-09-2023
There has been a jump in Australian women living with endometriosis and more patients are being diagnosed at an earlier age. About one in seven women aged between 44 and 49 have the inflammatory disease, the Australian Institute of Health and Welf Read More...
New WA yoga program supports Indigenous mental health
Date of Posting: 19-09-2023
A new school-based program in Western Australia is making mental health part of the curriculum, while keeping Indigenous culture and practices at the forefront. The Mindful Hearts education program is a yoga-centred program, developed by Yogazeit Read More...
Imagination the key to better mental health
Date of Posting: 19-09-2023
As Australia’s wellbeing and resilience in mental health continues to decline, an Australian academic has developed a new strategy using imagination to facilitate hope, optimism and purpose. “Imagination is a skill we can learn to buil Read More...
The 'old person' disease killing as many kids as cancer
Date of Posting: 19-09-2023
Most people think dementia is only something to worry about in old age but the disease is surprisingly common in children, placing a devastating burden on kids and their families. Childhood dementia, like its geriatric equivalent, is a general ter Read More...
