National News 

Cervical cancer vaccination to begin next week - 26 March, 2007
A mass immunisation program to protect young women against cervical cancer will begin next week, federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said today...More

Diet, lifestyle link to cancer uncertainty - 24 March, 2007
Eating food high in fat and sugar significantly increases a woman's risk of developing a range of cancers. Researchers claim the results of two large studies, released this week, suggest the incidence of cancer is almost certainly influenced by diet and lifestyle...More

Small business urged to adopt stockpile plan for flu pandemic - 20 March, 2007
Businesses and households around the nation will be encouraged to stockpile cash and food as part of an APEC plan to keep services operating if an avian flu pandemic hits Australia...More

Fast food groups agree to phase out deadly fats - 13 March, 2007
Nutritionists and health campaigners have welcomed plans by fast-food and baked-goods giants to phase out harmful trans-fatty acids from their products following federal government pressure...More

Abbott won't lift mad cow blood ban - 12 March, 2007
Tony Abbott has agreed not to lift a blood ban imposed in the wake of the outbreak of mad cow disease in Britain...More

Climate change bad for health - 8 March, 2007
Children in rural Australia will face health problems as climate change starts to bite, and the impact on adults will go much further than the depression that is already affecting some drought-hit farming communities...More

Moderate drinking may benefit elderly men - 6 March, 2007
Older men who drink moderate amounts of alcohol may function better physically than those who abstain completely or those who abuse alcohol, a new study suggests...More

Lone GPs fall to the rise of mega-medicine - 3 March, 2007
Ten years ago this month, the Howard Government warned solo GPs were a dying breed...More

Beware the hype if going alternative - 3 March, 2007
Australia's drugs regulators are under fire over the freer rein given to the advertising of alternative products...More

Delegates call for quick fix to government reform package
Over 350 aged care industry representatives have delviered a communique calling for the problems with the government's securing the Future of Aged Care package to be addressed...More

State/Territory News

State weighs in on junk food ads - 12 March, 2007 (SA)
One in five four-year-olds in South Australia are overweight or obese, according to a survey by the state's Department of Health...More

Good health pays off - 8 March, 2007 (VIC)
Good health pays off, literally, according to a new report showing the fittest Aussie blokes have the healthiest pay packets...More

A sore subject - 8 March, 2007 (VIC)
Understanding the causes of chronic pain can help sufferers deal with its physical and mental fallout...More

International News

Activity levels key to childhood obesite - 21 March, 2007 (US)
Low levels of activity - especially a lack of moderate and vigorous exercise - play an important role in the development of childhood obesity, says a British study that compared the amount of fat children to their levels of physical activity...More

Cancer burden expected to soar, overwhelm doctors - 13 March, 2007 (US)
The graying of America will swell the number of cancer patients and survivors 55% by 2020, according to a study that suggests doctors may not be able to cope with the additional burden...More

Swiss spurn health insurance plan - 12 March, 2007 (Switzerland)
Voters in Switzerland have rejected plan s for a single means-tested health insurance system, aimed at reducing the high cost of premiums...More

Diabetes: a growing problem in newly-rich Asia - 12 March, 2007 (Hong Kong)
A cheese burger one day, lasagne the next and chicken nuggets instead of a bowl of noodles...More

Review into doctor recruitment - 7 March, 2007 (UK)
The Department of Health is to carry out a review of the new system to select doctors for specialist training...More

Mental health reform 'unproven' - 7 March, 2007 (UK)
A major review has concluded there is little evidence to suggest a key plank of government plans to toughen up mental health laws actually works...More

Obesity doubles in Sweden in 25 years - 7 March, 2007 (Stockholm)
The number of obese people in Sweden has doubled in the past 25 years, with one in 10 Swedes now considered largely overweight, a Statistics Sweden study shows...More

Surgeon general: Teen drinking a problem - 6 March, 2007 (US)
Americans need a wake-up call about the widespread use of alcohol by millions of underage drinkers, acting Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu said Tuesday...More

UK 'needs urban health strategy' - 6 March, 2007 (UK)
Tens of thousands of people are dying early because of where they live - and the government is not doing enough to address the problem, a report has said...More

Wireless technology speeds health services in Rwanda - 5 March, 2007 (US)
To Rwanda's top HIV/AIDS official, communication within the national health care system can be slow enough to present a threat to health...More

Without health benefits, a good life turns fragile - 5 March, 2007 (US)
Middle-class people cannot afford health benefits...More

Rise in number of obese toddlers - 3 March, 2007 (UK)
Toddlers as young as three are being treated for obesity an expert warns...More

Most support U.S Guarantee of health care - 2 March, 2007 (US)
A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll...More

Health experts bet on spread of bird flu - 1 March, 2007 (US)
Think bird flue will become a worldwide threat this summer...More

Other News

Breaking the Commonwealth/State impasse in health: a coalition of the willing
John Menadue/New Matilda Policy Portal - 7 March, 2007
Full text available for download

Reining in health care spending: Let us count the ways - March 2007
Commonwealth Fund report...now available

Weigh the risk of disability - McQueen MP
One potentially enormous cost of an illness or accident isn't for medical care: It's the loss of income if your are unable to work.  Yet many people neglect to protect themselves from that risk, by obtaining disability insurance...More

Urban environments and health: identifying key relationships and policy imperatives.
Mead E, Dodson J & Ellway J (Urban Research Program)
Full text available for download