Health Report

A review of the evidence for community pharmacist prescribing has reopened the debate about who should be able to prescribe, and a legislative change means some registered nurses with special training will soon be authorised to prescribe a number of medicines on the PBS too.
Australia's Health 2026 report shows that dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as the leading cause of death in Australia,  and rising obesity rates are a contributor.
A new study assessed three parameters in the diets of Swedish participants who were at risk of dementia. Can the quality of your diet really make a difference?
A follow up of patients admitted to intensive care units around Australia with sepsis and septic shock, looked at the longer term effects of this life threatening condition.
References
Community pharmacist prescribing outcomes in Australia and beyond
Pharmacist prescribing: without evidence, it's the patient who pays
RACGP-commissioned review confirms pharmacist prescribing improves access to care
New law gives registered nurses PBS prescribing rights for the first time
Sexual orientation and gender identity based disparities in colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening in the United States
US study on cancer screening access and what it means for AustraliaUSyd CEC response
Australian cancer trials are getting worse at reporting sex differences - putting patients at risk
Australia's health 2026 (AIHW)
Diet Quality and Dementia Risk in Older Adults With Alzheimer Pathology
Long-term survival in patients discharged alive from hospital following an intensive care unit admission with sepsis or septic shock in Australia and New Zealand: an observational cohort study

While looking for ways to treat pain in those with musculoskeletal disorders, researchers examined studies in which sleep supplement melatonin had been used. 
A study into the behaviour of immune cells in coeliac disease patients showed surprising results. Instead of being overactive, T cells in coeliac disease were subdued, and didn't survive as long as T cells from healthy people. 
Spinal stimulators have been in use for many years, but the evidence for their benefit, or otherwise has been unclear until now.
References
Efficacy and effectiveness of melatonin for the management of musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo and active controlled trials
Functional immune profiling reveals CD4+ T cell dysregulation in coeliac disease (Immunology and Cell Biology, 2026)
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation plus locomotor training versus sham-stimulation plus locomotor training in chronic spinal cord injury (eWALK): a multicentre, triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial
The little-known cause of heart attack in young women
Worsening Asthma Outcomes in Australian Adults: A Comparison of Stratified Sample Surveys in 2012 and 2021
Most Australians unaware of 'black triangle' medicine side effects reporting scheme: study
New pneumococcal vaccine for adults on the NIP
Statement from Invidior on removal of Sublocade from Australian market

A movement disorder specialist says the APVMA decision on the use of herbicide paraquat ignores evidence of the link with cases of Parkinson's disease.
Analysis of patient data shows less than twenty percent of people attend a cardiac rehabilitation program after their hospital stay, despite the fact that it can make a huge difference to health outcomes. 
There's been a substantial increase in vaccine concerns from parents, with changes to messaging on vaccines in the USA filtering through to Australia. A childhood immunisation expert outlines an approach to help turn this around.
And a study shows most IVF add-on treatments do not result in more pregnancies.
References:
Statement from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
Chemical regulator approves restricted use of herbicide paraquat previously linked to Parkinson's disease
Mapping patient outcomes associated with cardiac rehabilitation
Childhood vaccine hesitancy, The New England Journal of Medicine
Safety and effectiveness of ten common in-vitro fertilisation add-ons
No evidence most IVF add-on treatments improve fertility
Concerns regarding the public health risks associated with unapproved peptide products
WA Health provides public health update following avian influenza detection in wild bird

The first cases of H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed following the discovery and rescue of a sick bird on a remote beach in Western Australia.
Since then more sick birds have been reported, with authorities stressing the safest approach is to take a photo and notify them.
While the risk of bird to human transmission is low, there have been almost one thousand cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans since 2003.
So what happens now?
Further information:
Bird flu (avian influenza) CDC
Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza
An overview of influenza H5 vaccines
Science Show: Preparing for the next pandemic
Vet chanced upon sick bird that turned out to be first H5 bird flu case

The first cases of H5N1 bird flu have been confirmed following the discovery and rescue of a sick bird on a remote beach in Western Australia.
Since then more sick birds have been reported, with authorities stressing the safest approach is to take a photo and notify them.
While the risk of bird to human transmission is low, there have been almost one thousand cases of H5N1 bird flu in humans since 2003.
So what happens now?
Further information:
Bird flu (avian influenza) CDC
Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza
An overview of influenza H5 vaccines
Science Show: Preparing for the next pandemic
Vet chanced upon sick bird that turned out to be first H5 bird flu case