The following health and related news items are sourced from National, State and online news, current affairs and opinion sites
 National News
 State/Territory News

 National News

Hospital admissions increasing - May 31, 2006
More people are being admitted to the 's hospitals, but the average length of stay is declining, a new report shows...More

Governments must not fail the healthcare of the elderly - May 20, 2006
Most Australians use public rather than private hospitals. The sickest and most vulnerable patients need public rather than private hospitals...More

Medicine costs to rise - May 17, 2006
Sick people would have to pay more for their medicines under a planned shake-up of the Federal Government's pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS), Labor said today...More

The National Primary Health Care Partnership Is Established Communique - May 15, 2006
A broad cross section of health professionals and consumers involved in the delivery of primary health services met for the first time today (Friday) in Canberra...More

Aboriginals still dying young - May 14, 2006
THE huge gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal people and other Australians living in the Northern Territory has failed to budge for two decades, a study has found... More

Medical Schools in new alert - May 13, 2006
Three more doctors' colleges have raised concerns about the standard of teaching in medical schools, with one warning that doctors' skills risk being taken "back to the Middle Ages" by cutbacks to the basic sciences...More

Bulk Billing Data Released: Health Costs Eat Away At Tax Cut - May 12, 2006
The out of pocket cost to see a GP has risen by 18 per cent since December 2005, from $14.24 to $16.75, according to Medicare Australia data released today by the Minister for Health, Tony Abbott...More

Fall in scripts saves $260m - May 11, 2006
Spending on the $6 billion-a-year Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is forecast to slide $260million in the coming financial year due to a continued slump in the numbers of prescriptions patients are getting filled...More

Health Policies Not Addressing Gap In Intensive Care Services - May 11, 2006
Australia has less than 10 years to address major shortages of intensive care service infrastructure and intensive care specialists, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) said today...More

Access Economics Report Backs Ama View On ‘Missed Opportunity’ Health Budget - May 11, 2006
The Australian Medical Association released an Access Economics report it commissioned to examine the health policy and spending announcements in the 2006-07 Health Budget and how they affect the health system, the medical workforce and patients...More

Rebate boost to clear obstacles to psych help - May 10, 2006
The lion's share of the federal Government's $1.9 billion injection into the crumbling mental health system will be spent on new Medicare rebates designed to encourage many more psychiatrists, GPs and psychologists to treat mentally ill patients...More

Communities get to decide where their funding goes - May 10, 2006
Town community groups will be able to dictate how health funding is spent in their area under a plan to help small communities take control of the way their residents should be cared for...More 
Commission Builds Confidence But Must Remain Independent - May 10, 2006  
The new Health Quality and Complaints Commission will go a long way to restoring public confidence in the State’s health system, although there are concerns about its autonomy...More
Increase In The Medicare Levy Thresholds - May 10, 2006  
In order to ensure that low-income families and individuals are exempt from paying the Medicare levy, the Australian Government will increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds and the Medicare levy threshold for pensioners of less than age pension age...More

$4.2 Billion Health And Ageing Budget Tackles The Big Issues - May 10, 2006
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, said the 2006-07 Budget includes major new funding for medical research, the treatment and prevention of mental illness, more health workers and prevention of chronic, avoidable diseases...More

Progressing On Several Fronts - May 10, 2006
The Federal budget that was rumoured to provide something for everybody has indeed seen some valuable initiatives announced for improved health in rural and remote ...More

Focus On Health Prevention And Early Intervention Welcomed - May 10, 2006
ADGP welcomes the announcement of a $250m package over five years to promote healthy lifestyles under the Australian Better Health Initiative...More

Federal Budget Reveals The Use By Date of Dual Public Hospital Funding - May 10, 2006
‘Last night’s federal budget bypassed increasing public hospital funding despite the widespread public angst over waiting lists and hospital conditions,’ CHA’s CEO Francis Sullivan said...More

Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health - May 10, 2006
Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues to be one of the most important and challenging issues confronting Australia. Despite unprecedented funding over the past ten years, access to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is still variable...More

Queensland Signs Historic Deal To Produce More Locally-Trained Doctors - May 10, 2006
The State Government signed an historic contract with Griffith University today that will result in an extra 235 locally-trained doctors for Queensland...More

Health Budget Notable For Its Ommissions - May 10, 2006
AMA Queensland has welcomed the Federal Government’s $1.9 billion mental health injection but has said the portfolio’s funding failed to address a number of other big issues...More

Health Budget 06-07: Medibank Sold, Medical Research – At A Price - May 10, 2006
Last night’s Budget confirmed the sale of ’s biggest not for profit private health insurance fund, Medibank Private. But the Howard Government has kept secret all the information about the sale, including how it will be sold and the impact on fundholders...More

Health Budget 06-07: No Health From The Health Minister - May 10, 2006
It is clear from Budget 2006-07 Tony Abbott is not running health in this country...More

Beattie Govt To Improve Training For Health Workforce - May 10, 2006
A new top level taskforce will improve clinical training and professional development for Queensland 's health workforce, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today...More

Developing The Health Workforce To Meet Community Needs - May 10, 2006
Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott said, Australia will need a larger skilled workfoce of doctors, nurses and othr health professionals to meet the needs of an older population...More

Greater Choice In Private Health - May 10, 2006
Changes to health fund regulation will allow insurers to offer products that better reflect current clinical practices and people's needs. Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott said...More

Tougher Watchdog To Restore Public Confidence In Health System - May 9, 2006
A tougher health watchdog with more powers, more resources and more responsibilities will forge a new era of openness and public confidence in Queensland 's health system, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today...More

Unis producing doctors trained as social workers - May 9, 2006
University medical schools have filled their curriculums with "soft" subjects to such an extent they are now busy turning out a generation of "medical social workers and medical psychologists" instead of doctors...More

State/Territory News

States ask Canberra to control hospitals - June 2, 2006
A Commonwealth takeover of state-run public hospitals has been put back on the national agenda, this time by two Labor state governments...More

Premier says doctors on the way - May 21, 2006
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie expected to lure up to 50 doctors from the thanks to his recent overseas recruitment campaign...More

Beattie talks up doctor recruitment - May 18, 2006
An overseas mission aimed at poaching British and Irish doctors to boost Queensland's struggling health system has been a success, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said...More

Patient's 'stuck on trolleys' - May 14, 2006
The number of patients stuck for more than 12 hours on a trolley waiting for a hospital bed has skyrocketed under the State Government's watch, the Victorian Liberals claim...More

13 HEALTH Hotline A Great Hit With Queenslanders - May 11, 2006
The State Government's new 13 HEALTH hotline service is proving a runaway success with Queenslanders, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today...More

Beattie Delivers On Clinical CEO Appointments - May 11, 2006
Premier Peter Beattie today announced another major step in the reform of Queensland Health with the appointment of three eminent doctors to Clinical CEO positions...More

Health Policies Not Addressing Gap In Intensive Care Services - May 11, 2006
Australia has less than 10 years to address major shortages of intensive care service infrastructure and intensive care specialists, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) said today...More

Doctors quit hospital over rosters - May 10, 2006
Six doctors have resigned from the emergency department of a Melbourne public hospital over concerns that new roster arrangements would jeopardise patient care, the Australian Medical Association said today...More

Training Boost For Queensland Student Nurses & Young Doctors - May 10, 2006
Training positions for student nurses and graduate medical students in Queensland will be significantly increased, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today...More

Dentists slam graduate plan - May 10, 2006
The University of Melbourne's graduate school plan has been slammed as a "grave mistake" by Victorian dentists, who say it would be too expensive for students and lead to longer waiting times and higher fees for patients...More