Lack of trust inhibits health data sharing

A lack of trust between institutions in Australia is a bigger hurdle to the easy sharing of health and social welfare data than perceived state legislation obstacles – which researchers say has little detrimental effect in Australia.

Mental health goes digital

The isolating effects of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 were a springboard for fast-paced, data-driven, technologically delivered changes in mental health care, led by new firms taking advantage of sluggish progress by traditional services.

Not such glorious food

A new study highlights the aggressive marketing of junk food to children by a cabal of major food manufacturers and calls for great restrictions to protect children from unhealthy products.

Caring for the carers

National Carers Week is a time we acknowledge the important but often unobserved, unpaid work of care done by 2.65 million Australians who provide support to family members or friends.

The end of antibiotics

Antibiotics have saved countless lives over the last hundred years, but a lack of development and their overuse in both human medicine and agriculture means their effectiveness is waning fast.

Zero stars for the food industry

Australia’s food industry is failing to meet already low targets for displaying the Health Star Rating (HSR) on product packaging by a significant margin, according to the 2023 State of the Food Supply Report released by The George Institute for Global Health.

Infertility in an over-populated world

Infertility now affects around one in every six couples of reproductive age around the world and a global team of experts has now made ten crucial recommendations to urgently tackle the worldwide decline in male fertility.

Would you want to know you’ll get dementia?

A simple, cheap and non-invasive blood test could help predict a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease up to 20 years before symptoms show, although the blight that might cast over their lives means it might not be news people want to know.

Higher fees could reduce tobacco outlets

Significantly increasing the licensing fees for tobacco retailers is an effective way to reduce the number of shops selling tobacco and should be considered again, according to Australian researchers.

Quacks, cures and curiousities

Throughout human history, various methods have been used to determine the health of an individual and cure them of ills, and even the invention of modern evidence based medicine hasn’t affected the popularity of some ‘alternative’ treatments.

Australia’s dead beat diet

Although Australia is ripe with golden soil and premium produce the nation is failing to embrace a balanced diet, with the national diet score falling well below a healthy level.

Understanding MyMedicare

MyMedicare is a new voluntary scheme that allows patients to register with their usual GP, in an attempt to improve continuity of care and health outcomes.