New antiviral may offer ‘less cumbersome’ COVID treatment option The Chinese-developed oral antiviral reportedly achieves similar outcomes to Paxlovid, but with fewer side effects and drug–drug interactions.
In Practice: Temporary telehealth exemption Until at least 31 March, high-risk COVID patients seeking PCR testing will not need to have an established clinical relationship to access telehealth.
The top general practice stories of 2022 Regulation, Medicare and COVID-19 are the dominant themes running through this year’s top 10 stories.
‘Disappointing news’: Government pulls Clinical Taskforce funding Formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Clinical Evidence Taskforce still hopes to attract support for its work.
How COVID-19 will be managed in 2023 ‘COVID exceptionalism’ and bespoke arrangements will be a thing of the past, according to a new Government plan.
GPs urged to not dismiss molnupiravir entirely While guidelines say the drug should be only prescribed as a ‘last resort’, there are concerns this could deter GPs from prescribing the treatment altogether.
Ill health burden increases in Australia New statistics from the AIHW suggest that people spent more time unwell in 2022 than previous years – a trend driven by COVID-19.
Incomplete picture hampering long COVID response Data gaps and inconsistent clinical definitions are hampering efforts to manage the increasingly prevalent condition.
Molnupiravir to be used only as a last resort: Taskforce Advice has changed for the country’s most prescribed COVID-19 oral antiviral, although access via the PBS will remain in place.
Health officials laud ‘invaluable’ contribution to pandemic response Three of Australia’s top health officials have thanked GPs for their pivotal role in combatting COVID over the past three years.