Number of opioid prescriptions falls Monash University researchers also found a drop in long-term prescriptions but a rise in the number of prescriptions started by young people.
‘A big difference’: Poisons Standard change brings hope Reduced paracetamol pack sizes are now in force, as a new report highlights the number of children hospitalised due to preventable medicine-related issues.
‘Life is too short’: The rewards of being a rural generalist A dual holder of rural generalism, Dr Mahmoud Al-Najjar shares his story of travelling around Australia, enjoying all his career has to offer.
TGA updates montelukast safety information Extra information is being added to all products to highlight the existing warnings, as a ‘reminder to watch out’ for side effects.
World experts urge overhaul of obesity definition The Global Commission on Clinical Obesity says diagnosis must change, setting out new criteria, categories, and calling on doctors to go ‘beyond BMI’.
Study uncovers 300 new genetic links to depression It is hoped the findings will help identify biological drivers to develop targeted treatments and more accurately predict risk.
Further progress on rural generalist recognition The wheels are in motion for the specialty field of medicine to be formalised, hailed by the RACGP as ‘a very good thing for rural GPs.’
NSW to trial pill testing The State Government says its decision to greenlight a 12-month trial at festivals is based on advice from experts and those with lived experience.
In Practice: Patient-reported experiences survey GP feedback is being sought on whether patient-reported measures are acceptable, appropriate and meaningful in the general practice context.
The GP facing the other side of emergency care Rural GP Dr Alex Sleeman survived falling under a two-tonne tractor and is learning to walk again, but that hasn’t stopped him, with his community’s support, from looking forwards.