People with disabilities are at much greater risk of living in unaffordable housing where the cost of keeping a roof over their heads can only be met by reducing spending on other essentials like food and health care. As a result they face a higher risk of homelessness, prompting concerns about a disability housing crisis in Australia. Read More
Private patients are increasingly using their health insurance to get early access to high-demand hospital treatments in public hospitals – forgoing long waiting times and queue jumping public patients. Read More
Winter has started, and with it, flu season. Inevitably, all of us (young, old and sick) have been implored to be immunised against influenza, with … Read More
A mix of prevention, early intervention, innovative medicines and data analytics is leading to confidence we may be able to finally beat the scourge of cancer. Read More
NSW's lockout laws, imposed to curb violence in Sydney trouble spots, have produced a strong overall reduction in reported assaults, even if incidents in nearby late night party zones have increased. Read More
A new strategic research alliance between the CSIRO and Swisse will build a body of scientific evidence on complementary medicine and help revolutionise the flourishing industry sector. Read More
The Australian government had to fight every step of the way for its tobacco plain packaging regulation since it was introduced in 2012. But it was worth it, a regulatory review has revealed for the first time. Read More
Australia's chief health bureaucrat is excited by the opportunities for technology in healthcare. My Health Record "can improve treatment decisions, reduce adverse events, avoidable hospital admissions and reduce duplication of medical tests". Read More
Too many health policy decisions are based on values or incomplete research, argues Canadian professor John Lavis. Evidence, he tells policymakers here, must be used systematically and transparently. Read More
A Joint Health Commission starting in one state is a sound way to begin breaking the impasse between the Commonwealth and the states on health responsibility, argues former top mandarin John Menadue. Read More
Vaccination myth-busting is getting a major government funding injection, but immunisation supporters don't need flashy campaigns, writes CIS policy analyst Helen Andrews. There are more practical and efficient ways to ensure herd-immunity. Read More
Research on e-cigarettes outsourced by the Department of Health is due in June. It's a polarised debate: should vaping be encouraged and controlled, tightly restricted, or banned? Read More
There's a lack of evidence for Australia's current approach to regulating program gambling, a new paper by ANZSOG says. Harm minimisation needs more research work. Read More
The inquiry into Victoria's disastrous Hazelwood mine fire commended and criticised the work of authorities. There's lessons in crisis management and health administration. Read More
