Health Report - Separate stories podcast

Epizodes

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  Out of pocket costs to become more transparent 19.09.2026 10min

  In the news: A legislative amendment passed this week will see an overhaul of the Medical Costs Finder website with more specialist fee data to be included. Plus powers to prevent private health insurers from 'phoenixing' policy products have been introduced. A study from University of Sydney analysing social media posts about the new blood test for Alzheimer's disease reveals the extent of misleading information being spread by influencers References Better transparency and choice in health care Medical Costs Finder Blood test to detect Alzheimer's disease will be trialled in Australia Social Media Claims About Blood Tests for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Content Analysis    
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  AHPRA 'investigating' unsafe prescribing of weight loss injections 19.09.2026 14min

  Our story on weight loss injections being prescribed to people with lived experience of eating disorders without proper screening, drew a raft of responses from people with similar stories and concerns. Rachel has lived experience of an eating disorder and came across ads for a telehealth weight loss company on a podcast. The ads continue in their podcast feed, more than a year after they lodged a formal complaint with AHPRA. Rachel hasn't been updated on the status of the complaint.  What is the body that regulates doctors doing about protecting patients from unscrupulous telehealth operators and medical professionals? Guest/s Justin Untersteiner, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Health Practitioner Agency  References Why is it so easy to get weight loss injections, if they could cause you harm?  GLP-1 drug prescribed to woman with eating disorder via telehealth sparks calls for regulation   Crackdown on reckless prescribing as regulator ramps up peptides oversight    
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  Lost sleep affects both mother and baby health 19.09.2026 7min

  Disrupted sleep during pregnancy and the post partum period can increase the risk of cardiovascular events for mothers, and it's now understood these risks can be transferred to the baby as well. What can be done to improve cardiometabolic and cardiovascular health in pregnancy and beyond?  Guest/s Helen Collins, Assistant Professor, University of Louisville, Center for Cardiometabolic Science  References The implications of maternal sleep disruption on cardiovascular adaptations and cardiometabolic outcomes
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  Trump drug pricing policy having impacts here as well 19.09.2026 6min

  PBS listings for medications for three separate conditions have run up against President Trump’s most favoured nation pricing policy this year. People with breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and opioid addiction have so far been affected.  New research on this policy and it’s impact shows there will likely be more of these disruptions to come. Guest/s Dr Thomas Hwang, Assistant Professor at Brigham and Women's Hospital and faculty at Harvard Medical School  References Most-favoured-nation pricing for prescription drugs in US Medicare: a cohort study
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  Mailbag: heart disease medications 19.09.2026 4min

  A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at [email protected]
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  Could this procedure prevent some cases of ovarian cancer? 12.09.2026 15min

  In the news:   The American College of Gynaecology has strengthened it's clinical guidelines recommending removal of the fallopian tubes in women already having certain procedures, to prevent some types of ovarian cancer. Australia's first NFL game was played this week, and we discuss a new paper that was presented at the International Sports Concussion Conference in Melbourne on CTE from brains of former rugby players donated to a brain bank. As well as a study about CTE in NFL players. A coroner's report on the death of a child in 2024 discusses the role of the multivitamins the boy was being given. The supplements did not contain vitamin C, and the boy died of scurvy. References Salpingectomy for the Prevention of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Ovarian cancer doesn't start in the ovaries Study on degenerative brain disease finds CTE in 31 former rugby league players BMJ: Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at death in National Football League players: retrospective population based cohort study, 2008-21 Brisbane Coroner's Court: Non inquest findings into the death of Conor Dean
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  Step intensity offers another way to improve your health 12.09.2026 8min

  A study looking at step intensity and step count provides helpful advice for those who are limited in their time and ability to increase the number of steps and their pace. There are long term benefits associated with increasing the pace of your steps, even in shorter bursts.  Guest/s Emmanuel Stamatakis, Professor of physical activity, lifestyle and population health Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University References Combinations of stepping intensity and daily step counts against all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality: insights from a device-based prospective study
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  Heart disease prevention drug fails at final hurdle 12.09.2026 8min

  The pharmaceutical company closest to getting a drug to market to reduce Lipoprotein (a) levels announced that while it reduces levels of these molecules, that didn’t translate into fewer cardiovascular events.  What does this mean for those with high Lp (a)? Guest/s Dr Nelson Wang, cardiologist and senior research fellow, George Institute of Public Health  References Novartis announces Lp(a)HORIZON Phase III topline results for pelacarsen in patients with elevated Lp(a) and established cardiovascular disease (CVD)
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  Genes to play role in earlier cerebral palsy diagnosis 12.09.2026 6min

  A gene study provides further evidence that cerebral palsy may be a collection of symptoms, not a disease. It also indicates doing a genetic panel early on could help confirm diagnosis and provide an opportunity for better treatment of affected children. Guest/s Peter Robinson, Professor of medical computer science, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Connecticut in the United States  References A phenotypic paradigm for cerebral palsy genetics
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  Mailbag: fibromyalgia 12.09.2026 5min

  A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at [email protected]
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  Maternal RSV vaccine protects mothers and babies 05.09.2026 14min

  In the news: RSV vaccines of mothers during pregnancy provides a 78 to 81 percent reduction in RSV-associated hospitalisation of babies from birth through 6 months of age. An analysis of the headline news of the latest study on cholesterol lowering drugs for people over 70 years of age. A clarification on our reporting of the two measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania from last week's story. References Maternal RSVpreF Vaccine Effectiveness Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Hospitalized Infants New England Journal of Medicine: Atorvastatin, Cardiovascular Events, and Disability-free Survival in Older Adults The BMJ: Measles: CDC refuses to record Pennsylvania fatalities in “measles associated deaths” row
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  Fibromyalgia is not in your head 05.09.2026 9min

  An international study of the genes of 2.5 million people confirms fibromyalgia as a nervous system disorder.  It also finds some surprising links to other genetic conditions which may provide future options for treatment. Guest/s Frances Williams, Professor of Genomic Epidemiology, Kings College London, consultant rheumatologist  References Nature Medicine: The genetic architecture of fibromyalgia across 2.5 million individuals
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  Iron infusions are in high demand. What's going on? 05.09.2026 6min

  Women of reproductive age are getting iron infusions at an increasingly high rate. What’s causing the numbers to rise so sharply? And who is missing out? Guest/s Dr Gizat Kassie, Senior Research Fellow, SAHMRI Women and Kids  References Increasing utilisation of intravenous iron among Australian women of reproductive age, 2013–2024: an Australian population-based study
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  Keeping HIV under control is increasingly challenging 05.09.2026 9min

  Cuts to USAID are having big impacts on spread of HIV in Africa, according to a leading South African expert. What can we learn from their experience about how to manage the growing spread of the disease in Fiji and elsewhere in our region? Guest/s Linda-Gail Bekker, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Cape Town, Director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre   References Pacific Beat: Australia boosts Fiji's HIV crisis response with new $8 million funding
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  Mailbag: unaccredited registrars 05.09.2026 6min

  A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. Burnout risk for unaccredited registrars caught in a ‘training bottleneck’ You can email us at [email protected]
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  The Australian vaccine saving millions of lives 29.08.2026 10min

  In the news: Twenty years ago, the first dose of the HPV vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer was administered. What's the impact of the research that led to this, from University of Queensland's Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC and his colleague Dr Jian Zhou? A Select Committee on Women's Health will look for the first time at post-partum care and pregnancy, amongst other issues that will support women. Submissions close on October 9. Genetic markers for stress have been investigated in donated brain tissue of people with schizophrenia, showing stress genes had been turned on. There have been two more measles-associated deaths in the United States  References 20 years. Millions of lives saved. One revolutionary vaccine Select Committee on Women's Health Association Between Age-Dependent DNA Methylation Changes at FKBP5 Enhancer Sites and Increased Cortical Gene Expression in Schizophrenia Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms Two Measles-Associated Deaths
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  Burnout risk for unaccredited registrars caught in a ‘training bottleneck’ 29.08.2026 23min

  It's become harder for medical students to qualify as a fully accredited specialist. This delay is having a profound impact on the wellbeing of doctors and on access to specialists across Australia.  For some the path can be two decades on from when they graduated, especially for the more competitive specialties like surgery.  Guest/s Dr Sanjay Hettige, Radiologist and Chair, AMA Council of Doctors and Training Dr Helen Schultz, Consultant Psychiatrist Sarah, Surgical Registrar Seniru Mudannayake, President, Australian Medical Students Association Dr Philip Morreau, President, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons  References Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 2026-2030 Surgical Pathways Strategy Department of Health: Whole of Medical Workforce Supply and Demand Study    If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
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  Is there a link between gout and heart disease? 29.08.2026 6min

  A new study compares frequency of ‘gout flares’ in patients over seven years and shows people experiencing flares more frequently have a higher likelihood of developing heart disease. Guest/s Dr Kuei-Ting Tung, Clinical nephrologist, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Taiwan References Annual gout flare frequency as a marker of sustained cardiovascular risk: a clinical threshold for risk stratification
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  Mailbag: Prostate cancer screening 29.08.2026 8min

  A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at [email protected]
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  Nicotine use in young people is changing 22.08.2026 9min

  In the news: Despite the reduction in daily smoking rates, 'poly-use' of nicotine, is a concern in some groups The WHO reports the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest ever seen in that country The TGA has a big job on its hands cracking down on influencers and companies flouting regulations around peptides References National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2025: Tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine insights WHO Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic of the Congo TGA flexes its muscle against illegal peptides and steroids Melanotan II tanning peptide products found to be inconsistently dosed