Headlines on health

Almost two decades after it entered the market, commercial genetic testing provider 23andMe filed for bankruptcy, earlier this year. Its demise has revived debate about genetic testing, which in its early days promised a revolution in medical treatment. Has that really happened?

A study of 5,000 Australian teenagers has found that almost one in two of those surveyed live with chronic diseases or developmental conditions. The research observed a link to unhealthy habits and poor mental health. But independent experts are emphasising that the study was observational, and that it's important these factors are not interpreted as the cause but rather elements that can exacerbate such conditions.

An Indigenous-led program that’s already helping hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people quit smoking and vaping is about to go national, thanks to a new $4.7 million grant. Which Way? Quit Pack has been developed by a team at the University of Newcastle, led by Wiradjuri woman Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says racism is affecting how people use healthcare services. As we mark the International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the nation's doctors want government support to measure how big the problem could be.

The Butterfly Foundation says seeking support for an eating disorder is often the most difficult step in the road to recovery. But a growing body of research suggests this may not be the case for neurodivergent and gender diverse people. Ongoing barriers to care can make eating disorder diagnosis and treatment increasingly challenging

An American pharmaceutical lobby group has urged US president Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Australia-made drugs, citing Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme subsidies which they claim have caused a loss for US companies. It comes after both major parties pitched to lower the prices of medicines under the PBS ahead of the federal election, and both Labor and the Coalition have vowed to defend the PBS in the wake of the tariff war with the US, as xxx reports.

The Australian Dental Association is calling on the government to introduce a Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme. It comes amid an increase in the number of people over 65 being hospitalised due to dental issues.

Multiple women’s health medications are set to become more affordable when they're added to the government-subsidised list of medications, the PBS. The federal government says the latest listings follow on from the $50 billion package of women's health measures announced in February.

Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, thanks to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and high immunisation rates. But because measles is so contagious experts say at least 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated to stop outbreaks - and that's not the case in the US, where there's been a serious outbreak in Texas witha couple of deaths. Vaccination rates have declined nationwide in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most states are below the vaccination threshold for kindergartners. The worldwide decrease in vaccination levels is also being seen here in Australia. Paediatrian and vaccine expert Professor Margie Danchin is from the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and she's been speaking to SBS's Deborah Groarke

Australia's leading charity for eating disorders has launched a new campaign in collaboration with top AFL players to shed light on body dissatisfaction in sporting environments. The Butterfly Trophies Lunch, which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, also calls for more support for young athletes struggling with building positive body images.

An Australian man has become the first person in the world to leave hospital with a total artificial heart implant. The patient lived with the device for more than 100 days before receiving a donor heart transplant earlier this month

The man who helped lead Australia's COVID-19 public health response says he's concerned about "global preparedness" for the next pandemic. On March 11th 2020, the virus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Five years on, Professor Paul Kelly - Australia's former top doctor - believes erosion of public trust will be "a major issue" should there be another global disease outbreak.

A new survey has found about a third of people would not dial Triple O if they were experiencing signs of a heart attack. But experts say that every minute is vital when someone is having a heart attack - and people should not be afraid to ask for help.

A new study has found Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world. But Kate Browne's breast cancer was still found by accident. She and others and now calling for better early detection practices to help more women avoid the same fate.

A new blood test is being trialed in the UK to detect the early signs of dementia. It is hoped it could identify patients sooner, so they can potentially benefit from drugs that slow the progression of the disease. With more than 400,000 Australians identified by the Government as living with dementia - and a forecast that those numbers could go up to 900,000 by 2050 - that could be a significant breakthrough.

Sarah Cox was told by her doctor to lose weight because her BMI, or Body Mass Index, was too high. But the consequences of her doctor's weight loss plan left the 35-year-old sick and hospitalised, as she battled an eating disorder for two-and-a-half years. Now, there is renewed scrutiny of the use of B-M-I as a measure of an individual's health. The tool has been used by doctors for more than 50 years to measure an individual's body fat, after it was first created in the 1830s by a Belgian mathematician [[Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet]] who was not a doctor or a health practitioner. More evidence has since emerged about its efficacy - and a group of experts from around the globe are proposing new definitions of obesity that consider a spectrum for how excess fat may or may not impact an individual's health. In this episode of Weekend One on One Catriona Stirrat speaks to Sarah Cox about how her doctor's reliance on BMI led to the frightening deterioration of her mental and physical health - and the changes she is calling for when it comes to improving health care for people with larger bodies.

Around 100,000 Australians live with myelofibrosis, which is a rare form of blood cancer. Treating the condition is difficult - anaemia is a common side effect. But an Australian-developed drug - just approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration - is helping patients overcome some of the cancer's worst symptoms.

The Federal Government has unveiled Australia’s first-ever National Autism Strategy—a $42 million dollar plan to improve inclusion, access, and outcomes for autistic Australians. Advocates are calling it a game-changer, offering hope and much-needed support to families across the country who face unique and daily challenges.

The federal government has disputed the findings of a new report warning the cost of visiting a GP is on the rise. The annual survey of health clinics found a decline in the number letting patients use Medicare to cover expenses up front. But the Health Minister says increased government funding has actually boosted bulk billing rates.

Authorities in the United States have recorded the country's first human death from bird flu. The patient, aged over 65 and with underlying medical conditions, was hospitalised with the virus on December 18. So how dangerous is the H-5-N-1 virus, and are we prepared enough here in Australia? In this episode of Weekend One on One, SBS Reporter Cameron Carr speaks to Michelle Wille, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Pathogen Genomics at the University of Melbourne.