Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s $573.3 million funding package to provide women with more choice, lower costs and better health care.

Announced on 9 February, the new package of measures incorporates key recommendations from AdPha, shaped by the expertise and insights of its members.

AdPha President Tom Simpson praised the government for listening to patients and health care stakeholders, including the valuable contributions of AdPha Women’s and Newborn Health Specialty Practice members, to take action on expanding care and access in women’s health.

“AdPha members welcome these long-awaited measures, which will help remove barriers that have prevented women from accessing affordable health care for too long,” Mr Simpson said.

“We have strongly advocated for a comprehensive approach to managing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms – focusing on awareness, education, and access to affordable, evidence-based treatments.

“We are pleased to see many of our recommendations, put forward during the Senate Inquiry and through our submission, reflected in this new package of measures,” he said.

“A/Prof McGuire from our Women’s and Newborn Health Committee specifically mentioned in her evidence that it had been over 20 years since any new medicines for menopause had been listed on the PBS, and these new listings will ensure that menopause hormonal therapies remain both affordable and accessible,” Mr Simpson said.

“Currently, over 85% of women experiencing bothersome symptoms of menopause or perimenopause are not receiving evidence-based care, despite the availability of both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies. With treatment options declining in recent years, we hope these reforms will reverse that trend.

“It is also great to see new contraceptives listed on the PBS for the first time in over 30 years, reflecting and subsidising contemporary treatment options that are used by many Australian women,” he said.

“We thank the government for prioritising women’s health and recognising the invaluable role of pharmacists in advocating for and supporting women’s health care needs.

“As this expands to including the provision of contraceptives and anti-microbials for uncomplicated UTIs at PBS co-payment prices for concession card holders by pharmacists – in direct support of our first recommendation of our Federal Budget submission – we look forward to enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration between doctors and pharmacists as we achieve patient-centred care,” Mr Simpson said.

“As medicines experts across all stages of reproductive health – from pregnancy, labour, and lactation to menopause and beyond – pharmacists are well-positioned to support women through these changes. With these new measures, we can play an even greater role in ensuring women receive safe, appropriate, and efficient care.”

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Group CEO Justine Cain said Diabetes Australia, as the national peak body, was steadfast in its resolve to provide leadership around research funding.

“Research is the key to changing the future of diabetes in Australia. It creates hope for a cure, and for better day-to-day management, which is vital for people living with diabetes,” Ms Cain said.

“This significant commitment, by Diabetes Australia, will provide greater certainty for our diabetes research community and grow its life changing impact in discovering better treatments, and ultimately a cure for all types of diabetes. We are unwavering in our commitment to support the community,” she said.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO Professor Sof Andrikopoulos said the research community welcomed the announcement.

“Understanding the condition’s process and its complications is the only way we can ensure people living with diabetes can live well. This can only happen with significant investment in research,” Associate Professor Andrikopoulos said.

Diabetes Australia says it will engage with the research community and people living with diabetes in early 2025 to design an approach that ensures that the $40 million investment achieves maximum impact over the next ten years.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO Professor Sof Andrikopoulos said the research community welcomed the announcement.

“Understanding the condition’s process and its complications is the only way we can ensure people living with diabetes can live well. This can only happen with significant investment in research,” Associate Professor Andrikopoulos said.

research, diabetes, funding, Diabetes Australia, diabetes management, Australian Diabetes Society

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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Health System Spending on Disease and Injury in Australia 2022–23 report shows disease-related healthcare spending rose from $159.3 billion in 2021–22 to $172.3 billion in 2022–23, an 8.2% increase in current prices.

Chronic diseases accounted for nearly half of the spending—$82 billion—with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders consistently dominating costs over the last decade. Among cancers, prostate, non-melanoma skin, breast, and bowel cancers represented the top areas of expenditure.

‘We need to invest in prevention’

PHAA CEO Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin says the findings underscore the urgent need to prioritise prevention.

“In addition to the harms of these preventable diseases, each person living with such conditions experiences pain, suffering, a lower quality of life, and, in too many cases, premature death,” Adj Prof Slevin said.

“This reinforces the need to invest in prevention.”

Currently, just 2% of health spending goes toward public health initiatives.

Adj Prof Slevin calls on the federal government to raise this to 5% of total health expenditure to mitigate rising costs and improve long-term health outcomes.

“We strongly encourage the Australian Government to boost investment to 5% of total health expenditure on prevention.

“This will help ease pressures on our hospital systems in the future, but also means people will live healthier, and for longer,” he said.

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La Trobe University expert Dr Kylie Carra, Senior Lecturer In Occupational Therapy calls for more funding for support services military personnel need.

“Almost half a million Australians have served with the Australian Defence Force. Yet, at least anecdotally, former service members describe immense difficulty accessing the rehabilitation services they need.

“We surveyed 123 occupational therapists to hear their experiences of providing services for returned service members. Therapists in the study consistently described inadequate funding, complex administrative processes, and limited support to upskill in this specialised area of practice.

“This is alarming given that former service members are twice as likely than the general population to have health conditions such as depression, anxiety, cancer, heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stroke.

“It means that former service members are not consistently able to participate in evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and vocational rehabilitation.

“Provision of services was even more complicated in rural areas, with therapists describing not being adequately compensated for travel and administrative costs.

“More funding is urgently needed to support the rollout of recommendations from the Joint Transition Taskforce and Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.”

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Mr Lewis was joined at the event by recently retired AFL Premiership player Nathan Murphy, who at 24 years of age bravely announced he would be hanging up his boots after multiple serios concussions, including in last years’ AFL Grand Final. Nathan’s decision came after medical advice suggesting that his migraines, panic attacks and anxiety may be linked to concussions which occurred throughout his playing career.

CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is the only preventable form of dementia, and some estimates suggest thousands of people are impacted. CTE affects brain function over time and can result in changes in mood, personality, behaviour, and cognitive function. Funding is required for research to better understand CTE, a condition caused by repeated traumatic brain injuries.

In his speech Mr Lewis said: “Imagine a life where the tapestry of memories that define your very essence begins to unravel.”

“The threads of names, faces, and cherished moments slip away, leaving behind a canvas of uncertainty,” Mr Lewis said.

“I am living with the constant fear and anxiety that I’ll let people down. This is my reality and the reality for all those living with dementia. One thing we do know is that CTE is the only form of dementia that is preventable, and we only get one brain.

“My call is for the Australian Government to back this cause and provide federal funding for these two initiatives that will start the change and will provide hope for the future. We owe it to our kids.”

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Associate Professor Jane Bourke, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s (BDI) Head of Respiratory Pharmacology, has been awarded funding totalling $416,000 across two research projects on silicosis.

The first reported case of engineered stone-induced silicosis in Australia was in 2015, rising to more than 600 cases by 2022. It is expected that there will eventually be more than 100,000 cases of silicosis across Australia.

Silicosis affects an estimated one in four engineered stoneworkers, as well as miners and tunnellers. When they cut, crush, drill or polish materials that contain silica, such as engineered stone benchtops or natural sandstone, this generates crystalline silica dust. The silica particles are so small that they lodge deep in the lungs and cause inflammation and irreversible scarring in the lungs, which results in declining lung function.

The first project, awarded by the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) for $93,500 in 2023, will look at early screening of people to see if they have chemical signatures representing silicosis. The second, funded by the Dust Diseases Board of NSW (DDB) through icare for $322,500 across 2023-2025, is for testing of therapeutic agents which can ameliorate or prevent progression of lung scarring characteristic of silicosis.

“At present, only people with symptoms are presenting to hospitals, which means many more may be developing disease, but not know about it,” Associate Professor Bourke says. “That’s why early detection in the workplace is so important.

“What usually happens during a disease process involving inhaled foreign substances is that immune system cells in the body can detect and destroy them. Unfortunately, this defence mechanism isn’t helpful when exposed to silica dust because silica cannot be destroyed or removed. Silica remains in the lungs and causes constant and persistent inflammation and lung scarring. What we’re planning to do is obtain a unique biochemical profile of this response to silica, to develop a signature of ‘biomarkers’ in exhaled breath.

“We want to make sure that workers are aware of the dangers of silica dust and provide them with the best chance to catch potential lung disease early, before irreversible damage has occurred.”

Having a non-invasive test that is simple to administer would enable population-based screening programs, a critical next step in dealing with silicosis. So too is having therapeutics which can reverse lung scarring caused by the disease.

Associate Professor Bourke’s research project is one of those selected for funding by the DDB to investigate various potential therapeutic agents for silicosis. Annually, the DDB, through icare, funds research and other activities into the causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dust diseases with the aim to reduce the risk of dust diseases and improve outcomes for those whose lives are impacted.

“In silicosis, the inhaled silica particles cause irritation and damage when they lodge deep in the lungs,” Associate Professor Bourke said. “The body then generates collagen, which damages the lungs and goes on to form scar tissue, or fibrosis, and eventually, lung function is compromised. We plan to test a number of drugs to reverse the scarring, so there won’t be a fatal build-up of scar tissue.”

Associate Professor Bourke said that her research team had developed a model for specifically testing silicosis drugs in human tissue.

“We will take microscopic slices of tissue from human lungs, donated but not used for transplantation,” she said. “We will expose them to silica dust and inflammatory protein cocktails found in the lungs of silicosis patients to cause lung damage and scarring. This will mimic the environment in the silicotic lung. Then, excitingly, we can test two anti-fibrotic drugs (already approved and shown to be effective in another lung disease) and two promising novel in-house drugs to target inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis.”

Professor Rob Widdop, Head of the Department of Pharmacology at the Monash BDI, collaborates with Associate Professor Bourke on other lung-related projects. “It is imperative that effective diagnostics and treatments for this crippling lung disease are developed,” he said. “Jane has not only been at the forefront of research in this area for many years, but she has also worked closely and extensively with those impacted by the disease, advocating for sector-wide changes.”

Text by: Monash University

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Total funding of cancer research investment in Australia has increased more than 3-fold from $292 million in 2003–2005 to $934 million in 2018–2020.

Cancer Research in Australia: an overview of funding for cancer research projects and programs in Australia 2012-2020, includes new data, describes the number of research projects and programs directly funded and the amount of funding that has been provided.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. A knowledge of the patterns of national funding to cancer research provides an understanding of trends in cancer research focal areas and provides opportunities to optimise priority areas for strategic investment in the future.

“Cancer remains a national health priority in Australia with significant implications for individuals, families, communities and the health system,” said Cancer Australia CEO Dorothy Keefe.

Professor Keefe says findings from the audit provide the cancer research sector  with an opportunity to analyse our national research efforts and gain evidence-based insights to inform future cancer research investment and focus, and Australian Cancer Plan implementation.

Approximately 2,163 Australians are expected to have been diagnosed with cancer in 2022, an average of 444 people each day. This number is projected to continue to rise and by 2031, around 5,475 people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in Australia.

The Australian Government was the largest funder of cancer research projects and research programs, providing 58% of the direct funding identified in the audit. Eighty-eight percent of cancer research projects and programs were funded by a single identified funding source.

Professor Keefe continued, “The Australian Government’s significant investment in cancer research underscores the commitment to improve cancer outcomes by developing new treatments and cures, using the latest technologies.”

4,813 cancer research projects and programs were funded across Australia over the period of the audit (2012-2020), with a total value of $2.12 billion.

“The findings of this new report show us that while there have been significant improvements in diagnosis, treatment and survival for a number of cancer types, there are areas where continued efforts are needed to reduce the impact of cancer in Australia,” said Professor Keefe.

“We know that research, evaluation and the use of data help our health system to meet current and future health challenges for all Australians affected by cancer.”

The report includes a description of investment versus burden of disease, investment across the cancer research continuum and investment in specific tumour streams. The audit also describes the extent of research collaborations, the sources of funding to cancer research in Australia, and international comparisons of funding patterns.

Text by: Cancer Australia

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A collaboration between Perth’s Children’s Hospital (PCH) and Diabetes WA, the aim of the Type 1 Kids Camp is to connect and support young children with type 1 diabetes.

“Our type 1 diabetes kids camps give children the opportunity to build their confidence by being away from their families, to have fun with their peers, and to be supported to focus on self-care while learning how to independently manage their diabetes throughout their stay,” Diabetes WA CEO Melanie Gates said.

Ms Gates says the activities offered at the camp also help to “create a sense of community” for children with type 1 diabetes, who often “need extra support”.

The grant was presented by Dr Katrina Stratton Member for Nedlands on The Kids’ Bridge also named Koolangka Bridge at Perth Children’s Hospital.

“It’s an honour to present this grant to Diabetes WA and PCH to help kids living with type 1 diabetes and to support such a great initiative,” Dr Stratton said.

For more information about the camps or to inquire about signing up, contact: community@diabeteswa.com.au.

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Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) will become available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May 2022 for Australians with triple-negative breast cancer whose disease has progressed (locally advanced or metastasised), is inoperable and have received prior treatment with two or more therapies.

“We have long hoped for a new treatment option for this unique and challenging to treat breast cancer,” Medical Oncologist at the Mater Hospital Sydney and Director of the Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Professor Fran Boyle said.

“Triple-negative does not have receptors on the cells that are the targets of existing breast cancer treatments, and so the treatment options available to patients have been very limited, particularly when their cancer has come back.”

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian women and the second biggest cancer killer, despite the number of advancements in treatment innovation.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a specific type of breast cancer. Reportedly, it is more likely to recur and spread to other parts of the body faster, compared to other breast cancers. The average time to recurrence is said to be just 2.6 years compared with approximately 5 years for other breast cancers.

It’s said that once TNBC spreads, the rate of death is higher than other types of breast cancers.

“We are extremely pleased to see expedited access to Trodelvy in Australia and commend the Federal Government for their efforts in recognising this urgent need and responding quickly,” General Manager, Gilead Sciences Australia and New Zealand Jaime McCoy said.

“We also thank the breast cancer community, including clinicians and patient groups for their collaboration, support and tireless work on behalf of those with metastatic TNBC, which has helped to make this novel therapy widely available to eligible Australians.”

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Mitochondrial diseases are said to be genetic, often inherited disorders that are debilitating and can be fatal. In Australia, approximately one child each week is born with a severe form of mitochondrial disease, often with a life expectancy of less than five years.

Symptoms can include poor growth, muscle weakness, neurological issues, and developmental delays. To date, there is no known cure for mitochondrial disease. Treatment is typically focused on relieving the symptoms of the disease.

Mitochondrial donation is an in-vitro fertilisation assisted reproductive technology that has the potential to reduce the incidence of children inheriting this devastating and life-threatening disease.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt says the funding comes off the back of Maeve’s Law, which was passed through the Australian Parliament last month.

“The bravery of not only Maeve, but her family in battling mitochondrial disease is an absolute inspiration,” he says.

“Almost once a week, a family in Australia is told their child has a severe form of mitochondrial disease. The tragedy of this is for these children and their families is that many will pass within the first five years.

“This research will help ensure that young children who would otherwise be born with an inherited genetic condition that could dramatically reduce their lives, instead be able to live a rich, full life.”

The 2022 Mitochondrial Donation Pilot Program Grant Opportunity will support a pilot program that includes a clinical trial that aims to better understand mitochondrial donation reproductive technology.

The outcomes from the grant opportunity will support future government policy decisions regarding the broader implementation of mitochondrial donation reproductive technology in Australian clinical practice.

The Grant Opportunity will be managed by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

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