Coffee reduces prostate risk
MEN who regularly drink coffee appear to have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer, a study suggests.
Health
Warning over mozzie virus
WEST Australian health authorities are warning people in mosquito-prone areas to take urgent action to cover up.
Tobacco firms labelled drug pushers
BIG tobacco companies have been labelled drug peddlers and accused of targeting their products to children, after warning they could slash prices.
Anaesthesia linked to Alzheimer’s
EXPERTS warns there is growing evidence anaesthetic drugs can accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists see gene behind depression
SCIENTISTS are homing in on a gene that may be responsible for depression.
Alarm over death links with opioids
PRESCRIPTIONS for the powerful morphine-like drug oxycodone are continuing to increase despite a spike in the numbers of deaths.
PM ‘sidelining’ states on health
JULIA Gillard’s $16.4 billion deal to reform the health system is in strife.
Abortion pill ‘less safe than surgery’
COMPLICATIONS from the abortion pill are higher than for standard surgical terminations, according to the first big study.
Wasting money on climate change betrays sick
THE funds should be diverted to medical research.
Labor splits over territory laws
LABOR senators have split over the Greens’ attempts to alter laws in the territories, a move that could pave the way for same-sex marriages.
Fund rebuffs lobby over ‘private exodus’
NIB rejects claims that means-testing the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate will force 1.6 million people to scrap private cover.
Check-ups ‘at mercy of power hikes’
A CARBON tax could force the sick and underprivileged to stop taking their medicines and abandon health check-ups, top physicians warn.
Welfare focus on neediest areas
JENNY Macklin has told an OECD conference that Australia needs targeted solutions.
MP wins ‘priority’ hospital treatment
INDEPENDENT Tony Windsor has reaped a $120 million dividend from his support for Labor, with a major redevelopment of his NSW electorate’s biggest hospital.
Hospitals to face shame register
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon will have the power to name and shame underperforming public and private hospitals.
Call to fund jobs for mentally ill
EXPERTS are warning that any mental health package in the May budget must to help mentally ill people find and keep a job.
Family law change ‘a new risk to kids’
THE Chief Justice of the Family Court Diana Bryant warns changes to family law reforms will reopen many cases and add stress to families.
Medicine cost rise dumped
BUDGET plans to increase the $5.40 patient charge for subsidised prescription medicine have been quashed.
Elective surgery waiting times climb
RISING elective surgery waiting times have put the effectiveness of the government’s hospital rescue measures under renewed scrutiny.
Taxpayers foot Big Tobacco bill
TAXPAYERS are footing the bill for a multi-million-dollar campaign by tobacco companies to extract Health Department information.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/health/page/195