News

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In Practice: Discontinuation of diabetes, obesity drug

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This week’s In Practice also includes an opportunity for members to have their say on how Medicare incentives and recent reforms are impacting rural general practice, and new practice technology and security resources available.
 
Liraglutide discontinuation
The GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide (sold as Saxenda) will no longer be available in Australia after December 2025.
 
Manufacturer Novo Nordisk says the decision to discontinue the medication aligns with its ‘commitment to provide the most effective and innovative treatment’ for people living with overweight and obesity, with semaglutide (sold as Wegovy) to be the company’s once-weekly treatment available.
 
The SaxendaCare website will close from 17 December.
 
GPs are encouraged to discuss alternative treatment options with patients currently using Saxenda. More information is available on the TGA website.
 
Is Medicare working for rural Australia?
The Australian Senate is investigating rural, regional and remote Medicare access, including the impact of the 1 November changes, pressures on small rural practices, telehealth access and whether current settings are driving avoidable emergency department presentations.
 
RACGP Rural is preparing a submission and is seeking member insights on how Medicare funding, incentives and recent reforms are affecting their practice and community.
 
Members can contribute by:

• completing the RACGP Rural survey to help shape the college’s response
• making their own submission directly to the Senate inquiry.

Members’ voices will strengthen advocacy to ensure Medicare works for rural Australia.
 
Updated Practice Technology and Management resources 
The RACGP Practice Technology and Management team has recently updated some key resources to assist general practices in using and managing their practice technology:
 

• The General Practice Business Toolkit has a new module on Digital health in your practice to help practices strengthen and expand their digital capabilities, as well as improve digital literacy for the practice team and patients
• Cyber security in general practice will help practices prepare for and respond to a cyber security incident
• Quality health records in general practice supports GPs and their teams to recognise what makes a quality health record and provides practical ways to improve and maintain record quality

Funding mechanisms for preventive health apps in primary care 
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) in partnership with the University of Melbourne Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health, is investigating options for remuneration of primary healthcare professionals to support consumers who use health apps in the prevention of key health issues.  
 
The project aims to embed funding mechanisms to drive adoption for preventive health apps, which in turn would generate sector appetite for robust and consistent assessments of the apps. The project team is seeking clinician insights to inform policy recommendations that would support both clinicians and patients. 
 
GPs can complete the survey here, find out more information on the AIDH website, or email policy@digitalhealth.org.au. 
  
Log in below to join the conversation.
 

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digital health general practice security GLP-1 liraglutide Medicare funding rural general practice Saxenda Wegovy

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