When is the treatment worse than the disease? New research shows GPs can help patients avoid opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Dr Hester Wilson, Chair of the RACGP’s Specific Interests Addiction Medicine network, considers how.
New treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to be listed on the PBS Australians with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will soon be able to more easily access a new triple-combination inhaler designed to boost lung capacity and reduce attacks of breathlessness.
Funding for new action plan to tackle macular disease The Federal Government has announced funding for a national strategic action plan designed to better support patients with macular disease, the leading cause of vision loss in older Australians.
GPs can help patients manage chronic non-cancer pain – with fewer opioids Opioids are no longer a front-line treatment for chronic non-cancer pain.
Having the conversation about end of life While eight out of 10 Australians believe it is important to talk to their family about care wishes in the event they become seriously ill, only one in four have actually had the conversation, a new survey has found.
Let’s talk about inflammatory bowel disease Crohn’s and Colitis Australia is encouraging people to open up about inflammatory bowel disease and leave behind the associated stigma.
Pharmacists’ codeine fears overstated, GP says While pharmacists have raised concerns about a shortage of low-dose codeine, Dr Evan Ackermann, a GP with a special interest in drugs of dependence, says the evidence supports up-scheduling.
Fatal disease burden falls by 20%: AIHW report Australia’s rate of fatal burden from all diseases decreased by 19.6% between 2003 and 2015.
May issue of Australian Journal of General Practice now available The latest issue of the Australian Journal of General Practice, the RACGP’s peer-reviewed scholarly journal, is now available online.
Time for action on endometriosis RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel has commended Australia’s health ministers for taking action on endometriosis, which he describes as a ‘severe and often silent’ health concern for women throughout the country.