A new chemotherapy drug for ovarian cancer has received United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug Designation. Cantrixil is now scheduled to enter Australia in late-2015/early-2016 for clinical treatment of patients with the condition malignant ascites, a terminal condition associated with cancers such as ovarian cancer and for which no effective long-term therapies exist. [ + ]

Trauma specialists at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital have reported a positive response to the six-month trial of a new app designed specifically for the facility to assist with critical decision-making processes in time and resource restricted situations. [ + ]

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The states will join with New South Wales in three separate trials to test for the benefits of medicinal marijuana with a total cost of $9 million to commence in mid-2016. [ + ]

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There needs to be improved consultation with patient advocacy groups about public health funding for new medical technologies according to a study by the University of Adelaide's School of Population Health. [ + ]

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Medication safety is a critical issue for health professionals and their patients. Although medicines make a significant contribution to preventing and treating illness, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life, they also have the potential to cause harm. As a result, medicines are not only associated with providing therapeutic benefits to patients, but also with adverse events caused by errors in systems and processes within prescribing, dispensing, administration and monitoring practices. Medication incidences have negative impacts on patient outcomes and public confidence of healthcare delivery and they are costly to the health care system, its health professionals and regulatory bodies. Safe use of medicines is a high priority in the healthcare sector. [ + ]

General Practice Registras Australia (GPRA) supports the plan to establish a new profession-led General Practice Training Advisory Committee to provide advice to the government on GP training policy and delivery. The advisory committee will include representatives from GPRA, RACGP, ACRRM, GPSA as well as an independent Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander GP. [ + ]

A University of Adelaide researcher is calling for screening of  alcohol consumption among the elderly to determine potential harmful effects. [ + ]

Australia’s major public hospitals have recorded a six per cent drop in the rate of healthcare-associated ‘Golden Staph’ bloodstream infections. [ + ]

University of Adelaide researchers have discovered a previously unknown link between vitamin D and depression in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). [ + ]

The Australian Academy of Science is calling  for the closure of a loophole that is allowing some doctors to offer unproven stem cell therapies. [ + ]

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